Structural changes in olivine (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 mechanically activated in high-energy mills

This study evaluates the structural changes in olivine (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 (deposit Åheim, Norway) generated by its mechanical activation. The high-energy milling in laboratory planetary and attrition mills as well as in an industrially nutating mill was applied during activation. To identify mechanically-induced changes in the mineral, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area measurement and infrared spectroscopy (IR) techniques have been used. The observed physico-chemical changes illustrate the possibility to modify the surface and/or volume properties of olivine depending on the applied activation mode. Infrared spectroscopy seemed to be suitable method for characterization of CO2 absorption modified on olivine.