Hematite ellipsoidal crystals

Morphologies of synthetic hematite include plates and discs, rods, spindles, spheres, ellipsoids, double ellipsoids, rhombohedra, stars, cubes and peanuts. In the absence of additives, hexagonal plates, which are often rounded, and rhombohedra predominate. Each morphology can be obtained by more than one synthesis route. Two common ways of producing idiomorphic hematite crystals in aqueous systems... 

Al-hematites formed slowly from Al-ferrihydrite at 25 °C over 20 years, varied between rhombohedra at low substitution and multidomainic ellipsoids ca. 100 nm across with a grainy interior at higher substitution (Al/(Al-rFe) = 0.15) (Fig. 4.20e f) (Schwertmann et al. 2000). Allophane as a source of A1 had the same effect (Schwert-mann et al. 2000a). Mn substituted hematites grown from ferrihydrite were ellipsoidal in the presence of oxalate and platy in the presence of NaHCOa buffer (Cornell Gio-vanoli, 1987 Cornell et al., 1990). Cu substituted (0.09 mol mol" ) hematite grows as large (0.2 pm) rhombohedral crystals the crystal faces are most probably 102 or 104 (Fig. 4.20d) (Cornell Giovanoli, 1988). 

Method 6 produces about 8 g of hematite which consists of grainy-look-ing ellipsoidal (spindle-type) crystals (Fig. 10-5 d) and has a surface area of ca. 80-90 m /g. Again, as seen from the X-ray pattern the sample is reasonably pure and well crystallized (Fig. 10-2) but contains adsorbed oxalate and a trace of goethite (see IR spectrum in Fig. 10-3). 

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