Atomic scale phenomena can alter the properties of minerals and affect their thermodynamic and kinetic stability in the natural world.
We study the impact of atomic scale phenomena on mineral properties, including:
We use a range of in-house techniques to characterise microstructural states and mineralogical phenomena at the atomic scale, including:
We also collaborate with researchers outside the Museum to use external facilities, such as:
The characterisation of new mineral species requires:
We use the Museum's mineral collections to study the compositional and structural systematics of technologically important materials, including