X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of dolomite surfaces exposed to undersaturated and supersaturated aqueous solutions

Cleaved surfaces of dolomite were studied using ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) following exposure of the surfaces to various experimental conditions. Dolomite samples exposed to air, to a highly undersaturated solution (0.1 M NaCl, pH = 9), and to solution with a supersaturation (−Δμ/kT) of 5.5 (pH = 9) were investigated with semiquantitative methods of analysis to ascertain the degree of non-stoichiometry resulting at the dolomite surface from reactive conditions. It was found that the dolomite cleavage surface in undersaturated solution was not altered significantly from the stoichiometric surface termination. The composition of the cleaved surface after exposure to supersaturated solution, a surface known to have self-limiting growth characteristics under similar conditions, was found to be Ca2+ rich (CaxMg2 − x(CO3)2, 1.7 > x > 1.3). The observations, while underscoring differences in hydration/dehydration kinetics of the two alkaline earth cations, suggest that achievement of equilibrium at dolomite–water interfaces may be subject to significant barriers from both undersaturated and supersaturated solutions.