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Decorated Diffusion Paths in Quartz

Nature volume 219, pages 1248–1249 (1968)Cite this article

Abstract

SILVER will diffuse through quartz along the < 0001 > crystal axis under the influence of an applied electrical field to form uniform silver platelets up to 4µ thick, parallel to the basal plane within the quartz adjacent to the cathode1–7. Platelets may underlie one another within the quartz lattice and may be interlinked by fine metallic threads of silver either parallel to the < 0001 > or <11 & bar0 > directions. Diffusion in the < 0001 > direction occurs preferentially through specific areas of the crystal, with the metallic platelets formed by lateral diffusion of the silver from the feeder channel1,2,6. Tsinzerling1 believes the areas of diffusion are dislocations 20µ in diameter, although he has not succeeded in decorating them, the implication being they are analogous to etch tubes8,9.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Melbourne, Australia

    S. WHITE

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  1. S. WHITE
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WHITE, S. Decorated Diffusion Paths in Quartz. Nature 219, 1248–1249 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/2191248a0

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