Complex carbonate phases drive geologic CO2 mineralization

Lahiri, Nabajit; Kovarik, Libor; Taylor, Sandra D.; Crum, Jarrod V.; Ilton, Eugene S.; Depp, Charles T.; Miller, Quin R. S.; Schaef, H. Todd

doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02273-6

Title: Complex carbonate phases drive geologic CO₂ mineralization

Journal Article · Fri May 16 00:00:00 UTC 2025 · Communications Earth & Environment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02273-6 · OSTI ID:2566948

^[1]; Kovarik, Libor ^[1];

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^[1]; Ilton, Eugene S. ^[1];

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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Geologic carbon sequestration in mafic and ultramafic reservoirs is a scalable strategy for carbon dioxide removal, offering permanent storage via mineralization as stable carbonates. However, there is limited information on the structure and composition of key mineralization endpoints during sequestration. Here, we unravel the atomic structure, composition, and nanoscale morphology of carbonates recovered from a field-scale demonstration of CO₂ mineralization in basalt. Using transmission electron microscopy, we mapped mineralogical variations from the initial to later stages of subsurface carbonate growth and identified a previously unknown cation-ordered ankerite phase that exerts a primary control over carbonation processes. This study has provided a new understanding of subsurface carbonation pathways which will impact the parameterization of predictive geochemical models for future sequestration efforts in basalt formations.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2566948

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--194276

Journal Information:: Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Name: Communications Earth & Environment Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 6; ISSN 2662-4435

Publisher:: Springer NatureCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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