CAVITATION MECHANISM OF NANO- AND MICROPARTICLE FORMATION IN THE EARTH'S INTERIOR

Abstract

Processes of the formation and properties of natural nano- and microstructures are currently attracting considerable attention in the earth sciences. In some cases, the formation of nano- and microstructures is primarily related to physical processes, particularly cavitation. To verify the cavitation hypothesis of mineral particle formation in hydrothermal solutions, we studied the formation of both micro- and nanospherules of various compositions in the solutions, including the self-consistent consideration of cavitation bubble formation, determination of its dimension, heating of nano- and micrograins, and possibility of their melting. The study of the possibility of nanospherule formation is necessary, because the grains in ore deposits may be nanometric in size.