The reductive dissolution of synthetic goethite and hematite in dithionite

The reductive dissolution by Na-dithionite of 28 synthetic goethites and 26 hematites having widely different crystal morphologies, specific surfaces and aluminium substitution levels has been investigated. For both minerals the initial dissolution rate per unit of surface area decreased with aluminium substitution. At similar aluminium substitution and specific surface, goethites and hematites showed similar dissolution rates. These results suggest that preferential, reductive dissolution of hematite in some natural environments, such as soils or sediments, might be due to the generally lower aluminium substitution of this mineral compared to goethite.