Laboratory Re-Crystallization Synthesis as an Analogue for Hydrothermal Synthesis of Naturally Occurring Minerals

Materials phase characterization results from a laboratory-based synthesis presented striking similarities with some minerals in the earth’s crust. A laboratory recrystallization synthesis method produced a sucrose potassium nitrate (KNSU) composite propellant doped with magnesium oxide MgO in triplicate (5%, 10% and 15%). The samples were characterized for crystallinity and phase/molecular composition. The XRD results showed a composite with multiple crystal systems, confirming the presence of Orthorhombic/KNO ₃ , and Cubic/MgO systems. Monoclinic/Al ₂ (PO ₄ ) (OH) ₃ was present only in the (10%) and (15%) MgO/KNSU ratios, confirming the crystalline nature and property of the KNSU MgO-doped propellant. Phase compositional analysis provides quantitative average percentages of Niter 43.9, Periclase 14.9, Chaoite 2.1, Quartz 9.2, Marialite 19.7. While carpathite mineral 4.4% was found only in the 5% MgO doped KNSU composite, Augelite mineral was found in the 10% and 15% MgO doped samples as an average of 13.0%. Phase molecules identified includes (-C≡C-) _n for Chaoite, C ₂₄ H ₁₂ for Carpathite, SiO ₂ for Quartz, Na _6.32 Ca _1.52 (Al _7.37 Si ₁₆ ) for Marialite and Al ₂ (PO ₄ )(OH) ₃ for Augelite. Compared to research found in the literature, it was found that nature has also produced these minerals with similar qualitative characterization outcomes. The cause for these similar outcomes was deduced to come from the similar production methods of recrystallization and hydrothermal synthesis. One can further infer that laboratory recrystallization techniques can be used to model for research studies mimicking nature’s method(s) of synthesizing the minerals found in the earth’s crust.