<p>In this work, we present the morphological, structural, and chemical analysis of micron-sized spherules collected using a neodymium magnet on different days of the years 2020–2021 (except during the rainy season) in the roof and garden of a private residence situated in the Ajusco mountain, south of Mexico City. Their analysis was carried out using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-rays spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The spherules’ surfaces exhibit dendritic and cellular morphology. The spherules’ interiors were either completely solid or possessed holes. The spherules are primarily composed of iron oxides, with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis indicating magnetite (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) in some spherules, and Raman spectroscopy indicating hematite (Fe<sub>2</sub>O3) in others, suggesting a mixture of hematite and magnetite as their phases. Energy-dispersive x-rays spectroscopy also detected the presence of C (12 wt.%), Al (0.5 wt.%), and Si (0.9 wt.%), as well as trace elements such as Ti (1.3 wt.%), Ca (0.9 wt.%), Cr (0.8 wt.%), Mn (0.5 wt.%), Cu (0.3 wt.%), Na (0.2 wt.%), Mg (0.2 wt.%), P (0.14 wt.%), and K (0.1 wt.%). The analysis indicated that these spherules are of human origin (anthropogenic) where their solidification resembles the atomization process used to produce micrometer-sized spheres of alloys in which rapid cooling is used.</p>

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Structural and chemical analysis of iron oxide spherules collected in the Mexico City environment

  • C. A. Martínez-Sánchez,
  • S. Tehuacanero-Núñez,
  • A. Rodríguez-Gómez,
  • J. Reyes-Gasga

摘要

In this work, we present the morphological, structural, and chemical analysis of micron-sized spherules collected using a neodymium magnet on different days of the years 2020–2021 (except during the rainy season) in the roof and garden of a private residence situated in the Ajusco mountain, south of Mexico City. Their analysis was carried out using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-rays spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The spherules’ surfaces exhibit dendritic and cellular morphology. The spherules’ interiors were either completely solid or possessed holes. The spherules are primarily composed of iron oxides, with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis indicating magnetite (Fe3O4) in some spherules, and Raman spectroscopy indicating hematite (Fe2O3) in others, suggesting a mixture of hematite and magnetite as their phases. Energy-dispersive x-rays spectroscopy also detected the presence of C (12 wt.%), Al (0.5 wt.%), and Si (0.9 wt.%), as well as trace elements such as Ti (1.3 wt.%), Ca (0.9 wt.%), Cr (0.8 wt.%), Mn (0.5 wt.%), Cu (0.3 wt.%), Na (0.2 wt.%), Mg (0.2 wt.%), P (0.14 wt.%), and K (0.1 wt.%). The analysis indicated that these spherules are of human origin (anthropogenic) where their solidification resembles the atomization process used to produce micrometer-sized spheres of alloys in which rapid cooling is used.