Effect of Ni(2+), Zn(2+), and Co(2+) on green rust transformation to magnetite

In this study, we investigated Ni(2+), Zn(2+), and Co(2+) mineralogical incorporation and its effect on green rust transformation to magnetite. Mineral transformation experiments were conducted by heating green rust suspensions at 85 °C in the presence of Ni(2+), Zn(2+), or Co(2+) under strict anoxic conditions. Transmission electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction showed the conversion of hexagonal green rust platelets to fine grained cubic magnetite crystals. The addition of Ni(2+), Zn(2+), and Co(2+) resulted in faster rates of mineral transformation. The conversion of green rust to magnetite was concurrent to significant increases in metal uptake, demonstrating a strong affinity for metal sorption/co-precipitation by magnetite. Dissolution ratio curves showed that Ni(2+), Zn(2+), and Co(2+) cations were incorporated into the mineral structure during magnetite crystal growth. The results indicate that the transformation of green rust to magnetite is accelerated by metal impurities, and that magnetite is a highly effective scavenger of trace metals during mineral transformation. The implications for using diagenetic magnetite from green rust precursors as paleo-proxies of Precambrian ocean chemistry are discussed. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12932-022-00080-y.