STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF ZnS FROM MODERN SUBMARINE SULFIDE ORES OF THE MANUS BASIN (PACIFIC OCEAN): RESULTS OF ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY

Abstract

n spite of a great number of publications, the formation and transformation of ZnS polytypes have not yet been clarified. Most researchers believe that the formation of the synthetic zinc sulfide polytype is related to solid-phase transformation of the 2H structure during cooling. However, detailed structural data on natural zinc sulfide typically represented by a mixture of polytypes are insufficient for making comparison and definite conclusions. The features of the fine structure of natural ZnS are required for understanding its formation conditions. They are studied by various methods, such as X-ray diffractometry, electron paramagnetic resonance, electron diffraction, and electron microscopy. Evidently, reliable results can be obtained only by choosing the appropriate objects. Such objects are modern sulfide ores forming on the ocean floor, because they typically contain both ZnS modifications (sphalerite and wurtzite) and were not affected by metamorphic alterations.