1Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo Japan
2Meteorological College, Kashiwa Japan
Abstract:
The pressure dependence of the three lattice parameters and unit cell volume of fayalite (Fe2SiO4 olivine) was determined by X-ray diffraction under hydrostatic pressures up to 70 kbar. In order to eliminate stress inhomogeneity within a composite material consisting of a specimen mixed with an internal-pressure standard, a liquid (1 : 1 mixture of ethanol and methanol) was used as a pressure-transmitting medium. The isothermal bulk modulus calculated on the basis of the second-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state gives the values K0 = 1.19 ± 0.10 Mbar and K0′ = 7 ± 4, and if we assume K0′ = 5: K0 = 1.24 ± 0.02 Mbar. Three axes of fayalite were found to be compressible in the following order, b >c >a. Comparisons with the results obtained under non-hydrostatic compression are made.