by Chan Hoi Shan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-119). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgement --- p.iii / Abbreviation --- p.iv / List of Compounds --- p.vi / Abstract --- p.vii / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.ix / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Lanthanide-Amine Compounds --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Lanthanide-Amide Compounds --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Lanthanide-Imide Compounds --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Some Applications of Lanthanide-Amide Compounds in Organic Synthesis --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5 --- Aims --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Anionic and Neutral Dichlorolanthanocene Compounds / Chapter 2.1 --- Synthesis --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2 --- Structural Characterization --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3 --- Conclusion --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Amido-Lanthanide Compounds / Chapter 3.1 --- Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Yb(NHAr)3(THF)n --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2 --- "Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Yb(NHC6H3iPr2- 2,6)4Na(THF)" --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3 --- "Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Yb(Cp"")(NHAr)2(L)" --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4 --- "Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Yb(Cp"")(NHC6H3iPr2- 2,6)3M(L)" --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5 --- Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Yb(NHAr)3(NH2Ar)(L) --- p.74 / Chapter 3.6 --- Conclusion --- p.76 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Imido-Lanthanide Compounds / Chapter 4.1 --- Synthesis --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2 --- Structural Characterization --- p.82 / Chapter 4.3 --- Conclusion --- p.85 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Summary and Remarks / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary --- p.96 / Chapter 5.2 --- Remarks --- p.97 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Experimental Section --- p.98 / References --- p.111 / Appendix --- p.120

An angular analysis of the rare decay B0 → K∗ (K+ π− )µ+ µ− is presented. The study is based on a data sample from pp collisions at centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider which corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1 . An extended unbinned maximum-likelihood fit of the decay angular distribution is used to measure the CP-averaged angular observables FL, S3, S4, S5, S7 and S8 and the cor- responding form-factor independent observables P1, P4, P5, P6 and P8. The measurements are performed in the region 0.04 GeV2 < q2 < 6 GeV2 , where q is the dimuon invariant mass. The results are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions and com- patible with measurements published by other experiments. The most signifi- cant deviations are observed for parameters P4, P5 at the level of 2.7 standard deviations and for P8 which is 1.9 standard deviations away from one of the predictions. The P5 deviation in bin 4 GeV2 < q2 < 6 GeV2 is consistent with the one reported by the LHCb collaboration. The second part of this work shortly summarises the operation of the ATLAS Semiconductor Tracker, testing of the prototype module for the Inner Tracker strip upgrade, and the monitoring of non-collision background which was devel- oped as a part of this thesis.

Neste trabalho são investigados o designer e a fabricação nanomateriais magnéticos e luminescentes sofisticados bifuncionais baseados em Fe3O4 e complexos de RE3+. Portanto, novos nanomateriais Fe3O4@calix-Eu(TTA) e Fe3O4@calix-Tb(ACAC) emissores vermelho e verde superparamagnéticos foram preparados pelo método one-pot. Neste caso, o ligante calixareno quimicamente modicado como surfactantes para estabilizar as nanopartículas de Fe3O4. O ligante calixareno proporciona uma superfície quimicamente modificada e estabilidade coloidal das nanopartículas magnetitas. Consequentemente, as nanopartículas funcionalizadas (Fe3O4@calix) foram coordenadas aos íons TR3+ por meio da síntese one-pot, usando ligantes TTA e ACAC como sensibilizadores (efeito antena) para produzir nanofósforos altamente luminescentes. Além do mais, nanocompósitos bifuncionais óptico e magnético Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Eu(L), L: TTA, TC, AB e AMB bem como Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Tb(AB ou AMB) foram também preparados por meio de um protocolo de múltiplas etapas, utilizando as nanopartículas Fe3O4 como precursoras. Elas foram modificas com camadas de sílica, usando o método Stöber modificado e ligados com complexos de TR3+ para produzir nanocompósitos luminescentes e magnéticos. As técnicas de difração de raios X pelo método do pó (XPD), Espalhamento de Raios-X a baixo ângulo (SAXS), microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM) e microscopia de eletrônica de varredura (MEV) foram utilizas para determinar as estruturas, morfologias, distribuições de tamanhos e monodispersividade dos materiais sintetizados. Estes novos nanomateriais bifuncionais Fe3O4@calix-Eu(TTA), Fe3O4@calix-Tb(ACAC), Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Eu(L) e Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Tb(AB ou AMB) apresentam propriedades fotônicas e superparamagnéticas muito interessantes. As propriedades magnéticas (ZFC/FC e M-H) obtidas nas temperaturas de 2, 5 e 300 K foram investigadas a fim de obter informações sobre o efeito da cristalinidade na magnetização de saturação e das temperaturas de bloqueios. Também foram estudadas a influência dos íons TR3+ sobre a magnetização dos nanomateriais. Apesar da magnetita atuar como um forte supressor de luminescência, as camadas do ligante calixareno modificado e da sílica sobre as nanopartículas de Fe3O4 compensam esta desvantagem. Do mesmo modo foi considerada a discussão sobre a transferência de energia intramolecular do estado tripleto T1 dos ligantes TTA e ACAC para os níveis excitados dos íons Eu3+ e Tb3+ nos nanomateriais Fe3O4@calix-Eu(TTA) e Fe3O4@calix-Tb(ACAC). As eficiências quânticas de emissão (&#951;) dos compostos Fe3O4@calix-Eu(TTA) e Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Eu(L) foram calculadas e discutidas, bem como suas características estruturais baseadas nos níveis de energia e parâmetros de intensidades experimentais dos sistemas contendo o íon Eu3+. Estes novos nanomateriais podem atuar como camadas emissores vermelha e verde para dispositivos moleculares conversores de luz e magnéticos (MLCMDs). / The design and fabrication of sophisticated bifunctional luminescent and magnetic nanomaterials based on Fe3O4 and RE3+ complexes are sought for. Accordingly, novel red-green emitting superparamagnetic Fe3O4@calix-Eu(TTA) and Fe3O4@calix-Tb(ACAC) nanomaterials were prepared through on-pot method. In this regard, the chemically modified calixarene ligand was used as a surfactant to stabilize the Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The calixarene ligand provides colloidal stability and chemically modifiable surface to the magnetite nanoparticles. Thus, this ligand functionalized Fe3O4@calix nanoparticles were further coordinated to the RE3+ ions via one-pot synthesis, using TTA and ACAC ligands as sensitizers (antenna effect) to produce highly luminescent nanophosphors. In addition, bifunctional optical and magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Eu(L), L: TTA, TC, AB and AMB as well as Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Tb(AB or AMB) nanocomposites were also synthesized through multistep synthetic protocol, utilizing Fe3O4 nanoparticles as precursors. They were modified with silica shell, using modified Stöber method and further grafted with RE3+ complexes to produce the luminescent and magnetic nanocomposites. The X-ray powder diffraction (XPD), small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to determine the structures, morphologies, size distribution and monodispersity of the synthesized materials. These novel Fe3O4@calix-Eu(TTA) and Fe3O4@calix-Tb(ACAC) as well as Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Eu(L) and Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Tb(AB or AMB) magnetic luminescent nanomaterials show interesting superparamagnetic and photonic properties. The magnetic properties (M-H and ZFC/FC measurements) at temperatures of 2, 5 and 300 K were explored in order to investigate the extent of coating and crystalinity effect on the saturation magnetization and blocking temperatures. The influence of the RE3+ ions on the magnetization of the optical and magnetic nanomaterials was also studied. Even though magnetite is a strong luminescence quencher, the coating of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles with synthetically modified calixarene ligand (calix) and silica shell have overcome this difficulty. Moreover, the intramolecular energy transfer from the T1 excited triplet states of TTA and ACAC ligands to the emitting levels of Eu3+ and Tb3+ in the Fe3O4@calix-Eu(TTA) and Fe3O4@calix-Tb(ACAC) nanomaterials are discussed. The emission quantum efficiencies (&#951;) for the Fe3O4@calix-Eu(TTA) and Fe3O4@SiO2-TTA-Eu(L) nanomaterials are also calculated and discussed, as well as the structural features based on the energy levels and experimental intensity parameters, in the case of the Eu3+ ion. These novel nanomaterials may act as the emitting layer for the red and green light for magnetic and light converting molecular devices (MLCMDs).

The structure of molten Au0.81Si0.19, Au0.72Ge0.28 and Ag0.74Ge0.26 alloys with a composition at or near to the eutectic was investigated by using neutron diffraction (ND). The results suggest that the Au-Au distance in the alloys is similar to that of liquid Au, there is a preference for Au-Si bonds and show that there are pre-peaks in the total structure factors for Au0.72Ge0.28 and Ag0.74Ge0.26 at 1.3(2) and 1.6(3) ˚, A−1 respectively. The asymptotic decay of the pair correlation functions was found to agree both with a theoretical prediction based on simple pair potentials and a fractal model for metallic glasses. The structure of glassy (R2O3)0.2(Al2O3)0.2(SiO2)0.6, where R denotes Dy, Ho or a 50:50 mixture of Dy and Ho, was investigated by using the method of isomorphic substitution in ND, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The network is made from SiO4 tetrahedral units with a distribution of AlO4, AlO5 and AlO6 units giving an average coordination number of 4.5(1). There is a distribution of RO5, RO6, RO7, RO8 and RO9 units with an average coordination number of 7.2(3) and an average R-O distance of 2.33(2) ˚ A. The EXAFS results confirmed that Dy and Ho are isomorphic and were used to refine an RMC model of the structure. R-Al and R-Si nearest neighbour shells with average distances of 3.15(3) and 3.6(1) ˚A were required to fit the EXAFS results. The structure of glassy and liquid ZnCl2 was studied by using ND and XRD. The material has a network structure made from ZnCl4 tetrahedra units which is retained in the liquid at temperatures near to the boiling point. An increase of temperature promotes edge sharing connectivity as inferred from a decrease of the Zn-Zn nearest neighbour distance and average Zn-Cl coordination number. An EXAFS study on crystalline ZnCl2 at room temperature shows that Zn remains 4fold coordinated at pressures less than 1 GPa, is 4+2-fold coordinated at 2-4 GPa, and is 6-fold coordinated above 4 GPa. For liquid ZnCl2, Zn is 4-fold coordinated by Cl at a pressure of about 1 GPa and could be 6-fold coordinated at 2-3 GPa.

"Recently, sequencing technologies have generated massive and heterogeneous data sets. However, interpretation of these data sets is a major barrier to understand genomic heterogeneity in complex diseases. In this dissertation, we develop a Bayesian statistical method for single nucleotide level analysis and a global optimization method for gene expression level analysis to characterize genomic heterogeneity in mixed samples. The detection of rare single nucleotide variants (SNVs) is important for understanding genetic heterogeneity using next-generation sequencing (NGS) data. Various computational algorithms have been proposed to detect variants at the single nucleotide level in mixed samples. Yet, the noise inherent in the biological processes involved in NGS technology necessitates the development of statistically accurate methods to identify true rare variants. At the single nucleotide level, we propose a Bayesian probabilistic model and a variational expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to estimate non-reference allele frequency (NRAF) and identify SNVs in heterogeneous cell populations. We demonstrate that our variational EM algorithm has comparable sensitivity and specificity compared with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling inference algorithm, and is more computationally efficient on tests of relatively low coverage (27x and 298x) data. Furthermore, we show that our model with a variational EM inference algorithm has higher specificity than many state-of-the-art algorithms. In an analysis of a directed evolution longitudinal yeast data set, we are able to identify a time-series trend in non-reference allele frequency and detect novel variants that have not yet been reported. Our model also detects the emergence of a beneficial variant earlier than was previously shown, and a pair of concomitant variants. Characterization of heterogeneity in gene expression data is a critical challenge for personalized treatment and drug resistance due to intra-tumor heterogeneity. Mixed membership factorization has become popular for analyzing data sets that have within-sample heterogeneity. In recent years, several algorithms have been developed for mixed membership matrix factorization, but they only guarantee estimates from a local optimum. At the gene expression level, we derive a global optimization (GOP) algorithm that provides a guaranteed epsilon-global optimum for a sparse mixed membership matrix factorization problem for molecular subtype classification. We test the algorithm on simulated data and find the algorithm always bounds the global optimum across random initializations and explores multiple modes efficiently. The GOP algorithm is well-suited for parallel computations in the key optimization steps. "

"Hydroxyl ions are a common contaminant in optical fibers, and are responsible for strong absorption centered at 1380 nm that becomes significant over long optical path lengths. Recently, however, special fabrication methods have been developed that minimize the hydroxyl ion contamination, permitting use of the entire 1300-1700 nm spectral region for telecommunications. There is therefore interest in examining the Nd 4F3/2 to 4I13/2 transition for a potential optical amplifier at 1400 nm. In this thesis, the excited state absorption cross section and the overall gain/loss spectrum of neodymium in a silica glass fiber were determined for the 1200-1500 nm wavelength region using the pump-probe method. The ground state absorption cross section was also determined from transmission measurements, and the stimulated emission cross section was calculated using the fluorescence spectrum and the McCumber relation. Oscillator strengths for absorption and emission transitions were calculated in the 800-1600 nm wavelength range using the Judd-Ofelt method. The above procedures were followed for both the Nd-doped fiber, as well as an erbium-doped silica fiber. The shape of the Nd emission spectrum is also noteworthy, since the characteristic Nd peak at 1064 nm is not observed, although there is strong emission at 1092 nm. The pump-probe measurements revealed significant excited state absorption loss between 1200 and 1350 nm, due to excitation from the 4F3/2 to the higher 4G9/2 and 4G7/2 states. Between 1350 and 1475 nm, there was no net gain or loss that could be observed beyond the level of the noise. For the glass fibers studied, it appears that in the spectral region of interest for an optical amplifier, the stimulated emission and excited state absorption cancel one another out."

Neste trabalho são relatadas as propriedades fotoluminescentes e eletroluminescentes dos compostos de &#946;-dicetonato de terras raras trivalentes (onde TR3+ = Eu, Sm e Gd) contendo ligantes fosfinóxidos e sulfóxidos. A preparação dos complexos foi feita pela reação do precursor &#946;-dicetonato hidratado [TR(TTA)3(H2O)2] (TTA = tenoiltrifluoroacetonato) com os ligantes fosfinóxidos [trifenilfosfinóxido (TPPO)] e sulfóxidos [dibenzilsulfóxido (DBSO) e difenilsulfóxido (DPSO)] em solução etanólica. Os complexos foram caracterizados por análise elementar, análise termogravimétrica, DRX pelo método do pó e monocristal e espectroscopia IV. Os dados de microanálise e titulação complexométrica evidenciaram que os complexos apresentam a fórmula geral [TR(TTA)3(L)2]. As curvas TG/DTG apresentaram etapas de decomposição térmica bem definidas para os compostos anidros e indicaram que os complexos sintetizados mostram maior estabilidade térmica que o complexo hidratado. Os espectros de absorção na região do infravermelho indicaram que a coordenação do ânion TTA- e ligantes fosfinóxidos e sulfóxidos ao íon TR3+ ocorre através dos átomos de oxigênio. Através da técnica de difratometria de raios-X por monocristal elucidou-se a estrutura molecular do complexo bis(trifenilfosfinóxido )-tris(tenoilfluoracetonato )európio(III) [Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2]. O complexo em questão apresenta sistema triclínico, com grupo espacial P-1. Oito átomos de oxigênio estão coordenados ao íon central e a esfera de coordenação apresenta-se como um antiprisma quadrado com moléculas de TPPO ocupando faces opostas. Os espectros de emissão mostram que os desdobramentos das transições 5D0&#8594;7Fj (J = 0 a 4) para os complexos de Eu3+ e 4G5/2 &#8594; 6HJ (J = 5/2-11/2) para o Sm3+ obedecem à regra de seleção do número máximo de componentes, sugerindo um grupo pontual de baixa simetria. O alto valor dos parâmetros de intensidade &#937;2 dos complexos de Eu3+ reflete o comportamento hipersensível da transição 5D0&#8594;7F2, indicando que o íon Eu3+ encontra-se em um ambiente químico altamente polarizável. As curvas de decaimento, para os sistemas com os íons Eu3+ e Sm3+, ajustam-se a uma exponencial de primeira ordem, sugerindo que não há outro processo de depopulação para o nível 5D0 e o valor do tempo de vida indica que o processo de transferência de energia é bastante operante. Os compostos preparados com os ligantes sulfóxidos e fosfinóxidos apresentam maior tempo de vida em relação ao complexo [Eu(TTA)3(H2O)2], este fato está associado a ausência de processos de desativação não radiativa referente ao acoplamento vibrônico com as moléculas de água. Os complexos contendo ligantes sulfóxidos e fosfinóxidos apresentam maiores valores de eficiência quântica e rendimento quântico de emissão experimental em relação ao complexo hidratado devido à substituição das moléculas de água, extinguindo assim, a supressão da luminescência pelos osciladores OH. O espectro de fosforescência do composto [Gd(TTA)3(TPPO)2] apresenta bandas referentes aos estados tripletos (T) do TTA- (~ 525 nm). Estas bandas não são observadas no espectro de emissão dos complexos de Eu3+ e Sm3+ indicando que a transferência de energia do estado T de menor energia do TTA- para os níveis emissores 5D0 (Eu3+) e 4G5/2 (Sm3+) é bastante eficiente. O complexo [Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2] foi utilizado como camada emissora na construção de dispositivos eletroluminescentes com estruturas: ITO/TPD/[Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2]/Alq3/Al,ITO/MTCD/[Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2]/Alq3/Al e ITO/MTCD/[Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2]/Al apresentaram valor máximo de eficiência EL em torno de 0,0011 cd/A em 23 V. Os espectros EL apresentaram emissão características das transições 5D0&#8594;7FJ oriundas do íon Eu3+. As coordenadas da Comissão Internacional de l\'Eclairage (CIE) foram determinadas e mostraram que os dispositivos emitem cor vermelha monocromática. / In this work the photo and electroluminescent properties of the trivalent rare earth (RE3+ = Eu, Sm and Gd) &#946;-diketonate compounds with phosphine oxide and sulfoxide ligands are related. The TR3+ complexes were prepared by the reaction between the hydrated &#946;-diketonate [TR(TTA)3(H2O)2] (TTA = thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) and the phosphine oxides and sulfoxides ligands in ethanolic solution. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, XRD by powder and monocrystal methods, and IR spectroscopy. The microanalysis and complexometric titration data evidenced that complexes present the general formula [RE(TTA)3(L)2] (where L = triphenilphosphine oxide TPPO, diphenilsulfoxide DPSO and dibenzilsulfoxide DBSO). The TG/DTG curves ofthe anhydrous compounds showed well-defined stages with higher thermal stability when compared to the hydrated complex. The absorption spectra in the infrared region showed that the coordination of TTA anion and ligands to RE3+ ions occurs through the oxygen atoms. The molecular structure of the complex europium (III) tris(&#945;-tenoyltrifluoroacetonate) bistriphenylphosphine oxide [Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2] was elucidated utilizing the monocrystal X-ray difractometry technique. This complex has a triclinic system, with spatial group P-1, where eight oxygen atoms are coordinated to the rare earth ion and the coordination polyhedron which is best approximated as a squared antiprism whereas there are two TPPO molecules occupying the opposite faces. The emission spectra showed that the 5D0&#8594;7Fj (J = 0-4) and 4G5/2 &#8594; 6HJ (J = 5/2-11/2) transitions of the europium and samarium complexes, respectively splitting in the maximum number components, indicating that the rare earth ions are in a low site symmetries. The high value of the intensity parameters &#937;2 of the Eu3+ complexes reflect the hypersensitive behavior of the 5D0&#8594;7F2 transition indicating that the Eu3+ ion is in a highly polarizable chemical environment. The luminescence decay curves of the systems containing Eu3+ and Sm3+ ions, adjust to a first order exponential, suggesting that there is no other channel for the depopulation to the level 5D0 and the value of lifetime indicate that the transfer energy process is operant. The [Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2] has a higher lifetime value than europium tris(thenoyltrifluoroacetonate) dihydrate [Eu(TTA)3(H2O)2] due to the absence of the deactivation channel non-radiative by the vibronic coupling from the water molecules. It has been observed an increase in the emission quantum yield ( and emission quantum efficiency) of &#946;-diketonate complexes when the TPPO, DPSO and DBSO ligands substitute the two water molecules. The phosphorescence spectrum of the [Gd(TTA)3(TPPO)2] complex shows bands referent to the triplet states (T) of the TTA-. These bands are not observed in the emission spectra of the Eu3+ e Sm3+ complexes, corroborating that the energy transfer from the lower energy T of the TTA- to the emitting level 5D0 (Eu3+) e 4G5/2 (Sm3+) is very effective. The [Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2] complex was utilized as emitting layer in the construction of electroluminescent devices with the structure ITO/TPD/[Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2]/Alq3/Al, ITO/MTCD/[Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2]/Alq3/Al and ITO/MTCD/[Eu(TTA)3(TPPO)2]/Al and showed high efficiency around 0.0011 cd/A at 23 V The EL spectra presented characteristic emission originated from the Eu3+ ion. The chromaticity coordinates of the Commission Internationale de l\'Eclairage (CIE) was determined and showed that the constructed devices emit a monochromatic red light.

Os pegmatitos estudados estão associados à fácies albita granito do granito Madeira, a qual corresponde ao depósito de Sn-Nb-Ta (F, ETR, U, Th) Madeira, na mina Pitinga (AM) e estão associados a falhas de orientação N320/60SW. Estas rochas contêm minerais poucos comuns como gagarinita (NaCaYF6), genthelvita (Zn4Be3(SiO4)3S) e polilitionita (KLi2AlSi4O10(F, OH)2), além de grandes quantidades de criolita (Na3AlF6). Com base na composição química e mineralógica, estes pegmatitos foram classificados em três tipos: PEG ANF (teores médios de K e Na, com alta concentração de anfibólios), PEG POL (rico em K e com alta concentração de polilitionita) e PEG CRIO (rico em Na e com alta concentração de criolita). Estes pegmatitos contêm altos teores de ETR (especialmente ETRP) e Y, que estão concentrados principalmente na xenotima e na gagarinita. Estes elementos também ocorrem em elevados teores na grande parte dos demais minerais analisados. Também se destacam as concentrações anômalas de F, muito superiores às detectadas nos pegmatitos de outras localidades, e que promoveram o enriquecimento em Li, Na, K, Rb e Cs. A similaridade na composição química do AGN com os pegmatitos indica que eles possuem a mesma fonte. / The pegmatites studied are associated with the albite granite facies of the Madeira granite, which corresponds to the Sn-Nb-Ta (F, ETR, U, Th) Madeira deposit at the Pitinga mine (AM). They are associated with N320/60SW orientation faults. These rocks contain few common minerals such as gagarinite (NaCaYF6), genthelvite (Zn4Be3(SiO4)3S) and polylithionite (KLi2AlSi4O10(F,OH)2), as well as large amounts of cryolite (Na3AlF6). Based on the chemical and mineralogical composition, these pegmatites were classified into three groups: PEG ANF (medium K and Na, with high concentration of amphiboles), PEG POL (K rich and with high polylithionite concentration) and PEG CRIO (rich in Na and with high concentration of cryolite). These pegmatites contain high levels of REE (especially HREE) and Y, which are mainly concentrated in xenotime and gagarinite. These elements also occur at high levels in most of the other minerals analyzed. Anomalous concentrations of F, much higher than those detected in pegmatites from other localities, were also highlighted, and promoted enrichment in Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs. The similarity in the chemical composition of AGN with pegmatites indicates that they have the same source.

Rare earth elements (REE) are considered as critical and non-substitutable metals for electronics and green technology. A greater diversity of supply is needed and the REE occur in a wide range of REE- and REE-bearing minerals within different ore deposit types. The beneficiation processes for REE ores can vary widely based on their mineralogy and texture. It is, therefore, essential to understand the mineralogical characteristics when designing processing routes. Little research was carried out on this topic until the last few years, apart from bastnäsite, monazite, and xenotime, and most REE minerals in deposits currently under exploration are poorly understood in terms of processing characteristics. This geometallurgical study brings together the results of process mineralogy and minerals processing to recover synchysite-(Ce) and apatite from the carbonatite at Songwe Hill, Malawi. This deposit is unusual because it is a potential carbonatite source of both LREE and HREE. Results from previous flowsheet development studies on this deposit suggest that flotation is the most promising processing route and therefore this study concentrated on testing this hypothesis. It sought to understand the mineralogy better in order to predict processing response and carried out a series of flotation experiments to improve the processing efficiency. It also investigated the fundamental magnetic properties of the rare earth fluorcarbonate minerals (including synchysite) and established for the first time that there is a systematic variation in their properties that can be applied to minerals processing. Eight samples of REE carbonatite drill core, crushed to 1700 μm, and a composite sample ground to 53 μm and 38 μm were used throughout this research. Automated mineralogy (QEMSCAN®) was applied to determine the mineralogical characteristics of the ore deposit. This utilised a novel species identification protocol (SIP) for REE minerals in carbonatites, which was validated by electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The principal REE minerals at Songwe are the REE fluorcarbonates, synchysite-(Ce) and also parisite-(Ce). These are challenging minerals for automated mineralogical techniques owing to their chemical similarity and common occurrence either as bladed (needle-like) crystals, which is the main textural type at Songwe Hill, or as syntaxial intergrowths. However, using the SIP developed in this study, the QEMSCAN® can distinguish between these minerals based on the Ca content and can also recognise syntaxial intergrowths on a scale of about > 20 μm. The Songwe Hill carbonatite hosts about 6 wt% to 10 wt% of REE- and REE-bearing minerals. Apatite hosts the more valuable HREE in addition to P2O5, followed by synchysite-(Ce)/parisite-(Ce) (mainly synchysite-(Ce)), and minor florencite-(Ce), which host the LREE. These minerals are commonly associated with the predominant gangue minerals, ankerite and calcite, and, to a lesser extent Fe- Ox/CO3 and K-feldspar, strontianite and baryte. Fundamental magnetic properties of pure REE fluorcarbonate single crystal minerals using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were determined. The magnetic susceptibility is highly dependent on the mineral composition. It is positive (paramagnetic) for bastnäsite-(Ce) and gradually decreases as the amount of Ca increases in parisite-(Ce), becoming negative (diamagnetic) for the Ca-rich member of the series, röntgenite. Synchysite-(Ce) in this deposit was experimentally determined by magnetic separation and behaved as a diamagnetic mineral. This can be explained by the layered structure common to the REE fluorcarbonate series minerals. Selected laboratory scale mineral processing experiments including magnetic separation and froth flotation were performed. Pre-concentration tests by magnetic separation showed a recovery of 84% for P2O5, 80% for Y2O3, and 76% for Ce2O3 in the non-magnetic product, with gangue minerals rejection of about 49% for ankerite and 48% for Fe-Ox/CO3 to the magnetic product. Apatite and synchysite-(Ce) loss to the magnetic product is mainly the result of their association with the paramagnetic minerals i.e. ankerite and Fe-Ox/CO3 as indicated by automated mineralogy. A spectrophotometer was utilised to measure the solubility of the organic chemical reagents including fatty acids and lignin sulphonate in different alkaline solutions and to determine the appropriate operating parameters for bench flotation tests. The results indicated that the solubility of fatty acids increased with increasing the pH value from 8.5 to 10.5, while the opposite was observed for lignin sulphonate. 35 bench-scale froth flotation tests under a wide range of chemical and operating conditions including pH modifiers and dosages, soluble and insoluble collectors, depressants, temperature, and conditioning time were performed. The results demonstrated that fatty acids and lignin sulphonate are sensitive to changes in pH, conditioning time, and temperature. These factors significantly affected flotation efficiency. A recovery of 86% for P2O5 and 74% for both of Y2O3 and Ce2O3 with TREO upgrading from 1.6 wt% to 3.8 wt% at a mass pull of 31% were achieved under a constant pulp pH of 9.5, elevated temperature, and long conditioning time. This study suggests that combining magnetic separation and froth flotation techniques to pre-concentrate and upgrade the REE- and REE-bearing minerals, should be considered further to minimise the cost of the chemical reagents used in froth flotation and gangue leaching.

Mott insulators are materials in which strong correlations among the electrons induce an unconventional insulating state. Rich interplay between the structural, magnetic, and electronic degrees of freedom resulting from the electron correlation can lead to unusual complexity of Mott materials on the atomic scale, such as microscopically heterogeneous phases or local structural correlations that deviate significantly from the average structure. Such behavior must be studied by suitable experimental techniques, i.e. "local probes", that are sensitive to this local behavior rather than just the bulk, average properties. In this thesis, I will present results from our studies of multiple families of Mott insulators using two such local probes: muon spin relaxation (muSR), a probe of local magnetism; and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of x-ray and neutron total scattering, a probe of local atomic structure. In addition, I will present the development of magnetic pair distribution function analysis, a novel method for studying local magnetic correlations that is highly complementary to the muSR and atomic PDF techniques. We used muSR to study the phase transition from Mott insulator to metal in two archetypal Mott insulating systems: RENiO₃ (RE = rare earth element) and V₂O₃. In both of these systems, the Mott insulating state can be suppressed by tuning a nonthermal parameter, resulting in a "quantum" phase transition at zero temperature from the Mott insulating state to a metallic state. In RENiO₃, this occurs through variation of the rare-earth element in the chemical composition; in V₂O₃, through the application of hydrostatic pressure. Our results show that the metallic and Mott insulating states unexpectedly coexist in phase-separated regions across a large portion of parameter space near the Mott quantum phase transition and that the magnitude of the ordered antiferromagnetic moment remains constant across the phase diagram until it is abruptly destroyed at the quantum phase transition. Taken together, these findings point unambiguously to a first-order quantum phase transition in these systems. We also conducted x-ray and neutron PDF experiments, which suggest that the distinct atomic structures associated with the insulating and metallic phases similarly coexist near the quantum phase transition. These results have significant implications for our understanding of the Mott metal-insulator quantum phase transition in real materials. The second part of this thesis centers on the derivation and development of the magnetic pair distribution function (mPDF) technique and its application to the antiferromagnetic Mott insulator MnO. The atomic PDF method involves Fourier transforming the x-ray or neutron total scattering intensity from reciprocal space into real space to directly reveal the local atomic correlations in a material, which may deviate significantly from the average crystallographic structure of that material. Likewise, the mPDF method involves Fourier transforming the magnetic neutron total scattering intensity to probe the local correlations of magnetic moments in the material, which may exist on short length scales even when the material has no long-range magnetic order. After deriving the fundamental mPDF equations and providing a proof-of-principle by recovering the known magnetic structure of antiferromagnetic MnO, we used this technique to investigate the short-range magnetic correlations that persist well into the paramagnetic phase of MnO. By combining the mPDF measurements with ab initio calculations of the spin-spin correlation function in paramagnetic MnO, we were able to quantitatively account for the observed mPDF. We also used the mPDF data to evaluate competing ab initio theories, thereby resolving some longstanding questions about the magnetic exchange interactions in MnO.