Kinetic and thermodynamic factors controlling the distribution of SO32? and Na+ in calcites and selected aragonites

Significant amounts of SO₄^2?, Na⁺, and OH^? are incorporated in marine biogenic calcites. Biogenic high Mg-calcites average about 1 mole percent SO₄^2?. Aragonites and most biogenic low Mg-calcites contain significant amounts of Na⁺, but very low concentrations of SO₄^2?. The SO₄^2? content of non-biogenic calcites and aragonites investigated was below 100 ppm. The presence of Na⁺ and SO₄^2? increases the unit cell size of calcites. The solid-solutions show a solubility minimum at about 0.5 mole percent SO₄^2? beyond which the solubility rapidly increases. The solubility product of calcites containing 3 mole percent SO₄^2? is the same as that of aragonite. Na⁺ appears to have very little effect on the solubility product of calcites. The amounts of Na⁺ and SO₄^2? incorporated in calcites vary as a function of the rate of crystal growth. The variation of the distribution coefficient ($\text{D}$) of SO₄^2? in calcite at 25.0°C and 0.50 molal NaCl is described by the equation $\text{D = k}{}_0\text{+ k}{}_1\text{R}$ where $\text{k}{}_0$ and $\text{k}{}_1$ are constants equal to $\text{6.16 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}$ and $\text{3.941 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}$, respectively, and $\text{R}$ is the rate of crystal growth of calcite in mg·min^?1·g^?1 of seed. The data on Na⁺ are consistent with the hypothesis that a significant amount of Na⁺ occupies interstitial positions in the calcite structure. The distribution of Na⁺ follows a Freundlich isotherm and not the Berthelot-Nernst distribution law. The numerical value of the Na⁺ distribution coefficient in calcite is probably dependent on the number of defects in the calcite structure. The Na⁺ contents of calcites are not very accurate indicators of environmental salinities.