Uvarovite: Stability of uvarovite-andradite solid solutions at low pressure

Uvarovite (Ca₃Cr₂Si₃O₁₂) forms a complete solid solution series with andradite (Ca₃Fe ₂ ⁺³ Si₃O₁₂) below 1,137±5 ° C at a total pressure of 1 atm. Pure uvarovite decomposes to pseudowollastonite (CaSiO₃)+eskolaite (Cr₂O₃) at 1,385 ± 10 ° C. The incorporation of Ca₃Fe ₂ ⁺³ Si₃O₁₂ component in the uvarovite structure lowers the thermal stability of the garnet. The breakdown assemblage is garnet_ss (Ca₃(Cr,Fe⁺³ ₂)Si₃O₁₂)+pseudowollastonite (CaSiO₃)+hemeskolaite_ss(Cr,Fe⁺³O₃). Pure andradite decomposes to pseudowollastonite (CaSiO₃)+hematite (Fe₂O₃) at 1,137±5 °C. Andradite thermal stability is increased by incorporation of Ca₃Cr₂Si₃O₁₂ component by 248 °C.At 1,264±5 °C pseudowollastonite+hematite react to liquid defining a thermal minimum of the CaSiO₃-Cr₂O₃-Fe₂O₃ ternary system. This minimum is located at about 64.5 wt.-% CaSiO₃, 0.5 wt.-% Cr₂O₃, and 35.0 wt.-% Fe₂O₃. Uvarovite and andradite bulk compositions start to melt at 1,420 °C and 1,265 ±5 °C, respectively.The unit-cell parameter for uvarovite is 11.999 (2) Å, the refractive index 1.866 (2). The substitution of Cr⁺³ by Fe⁺³ increases a and n almost linearly toward the andradite end member which displays a unit-cell parameter of 12.059 (3) Å and a refractive index of 1.887 (2).