ILVAITE - STUDY OF TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT ELECTRON DELOCALIZATION BY THE MOSSBAUER-EFFECT

The mixed valence iron silicate ilvaite, CaFe22+Fe3+Si2O8(OH), displays electron delocalization associated with Fe2+→Fe3+ charge transfer as observed by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Previous studies report the observation of an 'electron hopping phenomenon' with resolution of discrete valence states below 320 K. Mössbauer spectra of a suite of naturally occurring ilvaites were recorded over a temperature range, 80 K to 575 K. Five quadrupole doublets were resolved by computer fitting and assigned to Fe2+(A), Fe2+(B), Fe3+(A), and Fe2+(A)→Fe3+(A){norm of matrix}c and ⊥c. Contrary to prior work, doublets associated with electron delocalization are resolved at 80 K and preclude the use of a Verwey-type order-disorder model. We propose a thermal activation model and discuss its criteria from molecular orbital and mineralogical viewpoints. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.