Transformation of calcium carbonate polymorphs: preliminary results

Abstract

Calcium carbonate forms three polymorphic minerals that are found in a variety of environments at the Earth’s surface. Other compounds in the aqueous system can inhibit or enhance the probability of one phase or another, favour growth of specific crystal faces, and change the rate of recrystallization. Control of crystal systems requires understanding of the relationships between the foreign agent and the CaCO₃ mineral surface. This work, which examines the transformation of vaterite to calcite, is part of a larger project that aims to define some of the parameters that control calcite recrystallization and grain coarsening.