Editing Metamictisation (section)

{{Short description|Natural process occurring on minerals}}
'''Metamictisation''' (sometimes called '''metamictization''' or '''metamiction''') is a natural process resulting in the gradual and ultimately complete destruction of a [[mineral]]'s [[crystal structure]], leaving the mineral [[amorphous]]. The affected material is therefore described as '''metamict'''.

Certain minerals occasionally contain interstitial impurities of [[radioactive]] elements, and it is the [[alpha radiation]] emitted from those compounds that is responsible for degrading a mineral's [[crystal]] structure through internal bombardment. The effects of metamictisation are extensive: other than negating any [[birefringence]] previously present, the process also lowers a mineral's [[refractive index]], [[Mohs hardness scale|hardness]], and its [[specific gravity]]. The mineral's colour is also affected: metamict specimens are usually green, brown or blackish. Further, metamictisation diffuses the bands of a mineral's [[absorption spectrum]]. Curiously and inexplicably, the one attribute which metamictisation does not alter is [[dispersion (optics)|dispersion]]. All metamict materials are themselves radioactive, some dangerously so.

An example of a metamict mineral is [[zircon]]. The presence of [[uranium]] and [[thorium]] atoms substituting for zirconium in the crystal structure is responsible for the radiation damage in this case. Unaffected specimens are termed ''high zircon'' while metamict specimens are termed ''low zircon''. Other minerals known to undergo metamictisation include [[allanite]], [[gadolinite]], [[ekanite]], [[thorite]] and [[titanite]]. Ekanite is almost invariably found completely metamict as thorium and uranium are part of its essential [[chemical composition]].

Metamict minerals can have their crystallinity and properties restored through prolonged [[Annealing (metallurgy)|annealing]].

A related phenomenon is the formation of [[pleochroic halo]]s surrounding minute zircon inclusions within a crystal of [[biotite]] or other mineral. The spherical halos are produced by alpha particle radiation from the included uranium- or thorium-bearing species. Such halos can also be found surrounding [[monazite]] and other radioactive minerals.
[[File:Crockers-Well-metamict-Uranitite-Th.jpg|thumb|alt=Metamict grey-black Th-Uranitite (or possibly Davidite) on granitic gneiss from Crokers Well, Olary, South Australia|Metamict grey-black Th-Uranitite (or possibly Davidite) on granitic gneiss from Crokers Well, Olary, South Australia]]