Atomic Force Microscopy images of surface nanobubbles on the carbonate mineral dolomite (NERC grant NE/M011429/1)

Non-contact Atomic Force Microscopy images (NC-AFM) of surface nanobubbles on the carbonate mineral dolomite. Since surface nanobubbles were first imaged in 2000, they have been of growing interest to research due to their long lived properties, with reported lifetimes as long as several hours. Images of nanobubbles were produced under water, collector and depressant conditions using the air water supersaturation method. These are the first images of surface nanobubbles on dolomite. Surface nanobubbles could play a part in the processing of dolomite via froth flotation. These images lay a foundation for future analysis of the effect of nanobubbles in flotation.