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Selective depth analyses of the alteration products of bornite, chalcopyrite and pyrite performed by XPS, AES, RBS

Museo di Storia Naturale - Sezione di Mineralogia, Università di Firenze, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italia. e-mail: gpratesi{at}geo.unifi.it

The comparative application of three complementary surface analytical techniques allows us to investigate the alteration process and to probe selectively, as a function of depth, the oxidation products of bornite, chalcopyrite and pyrite. Starting from a pristine surface, the samples have been studied at different stages of alteration up to a strongly oxidized state after two years of air exposure.

In spite of their different compositions, some similarities exist in their oxidation: iron sulfates seem to be mainly responsible for the increase of alteration whereas copper sulfide layers, due to iron depletion from the subsurface area, act as a barrier to the progress of alteration.

Key-words: XPS, AES, RBS, bornite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, surfaces, alteration.

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