Effect of grossular-content in garnet on the partitioning of Fe and Mg between garnet and biotite

In contrast to Ferry (1980) (X _Ca)-values in garnet even lower than 0.1 have a significant effect on the calculated equilibrium temperature using the experimental calibration of the Fe and Mg paritioning between garnet and biotite. Garnet compositions and Mg/Fe — distribution coefficients from samples of the Eoalpine staurolite — in zone in the southern Ötztal are related by the quadratic regression equation: InK _D= -1.7500 (±0.0226) + 2.978 (±0.5317)X _Ca ^Gt -5.906(±2.359)(X _Ca ^Gt )² Temperatures derived by the Ferry and Spear (1978) calibration using chemistry — correctedK _D values are petrologically realistic.Analysis of our data supports non ideal mixing of grossular with almandine — pyrope solid solution. The derived excess mixing energies are quite small for the almandine — pyrope solution (W _FeMg= –133 cal/mole) and about +2775 cal/mole for the difference between pyrope-grossular and almandine-grossular solutions (W _MgCa —W _FeCa) at metamorphic conditions of 570° C and 5,000 bar. The mixing parameters proposed by Ganguly and Saxena (1984) are not confirmed by our data as they would result in significantly lower temperatures.     

Experimental calibration of the partitioning of Fe and Mg between biotite and garnet

The cation exchange reaction Fe₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ +KMg₃AlSi₃O₁₀(OH)₂ = Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂+KFe₃-AlSi₃ O₁₀(OH)₂ has been investigated by determining the partitioning of Fe and Mg between synthetic garnet, (Fe, Mg)₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂, and synthetic biotite, K(Fe, Mg)₃AlSi₃O₁₀(OH)₂. Experimental results at 2.07 kbar and 550 °–800 ° C are consistent with In [(Mg/Fe) garnet/(Mg/Fe) biotite] = -2109/T(°K) +0.782. The preferred estimates for ¯H and ¯S of the exchange reaction are 12,454 cal and 4.662 e.u., respectively. Mixtures of garnet and biotite in which the ratio garnet/biotite=49/1 were used in the cation exchange experiments. Consequently the composition of garnet-biotite pairs could approach equilibrium values in the experiments with minimal change in garnet composition (few tenths of a mole percent). Equilibrium was demonstrated at each temperature by reversal of the exchange reaction. Numerical analysis of the experimental data yields a geothermometer for rocks containing biotite and garnet that are close to binary Fe-Mg compounds.     

An experimental study of Fe-Mg partitioning between garnet and olivine and its calibration as a geothermometer

The partitioning of Fe and Mg between coexisting garnet and olivine has been studied at 30 kb pressure and temperatures of 900 ° to 1,400 °C. The results of both synthesis and reversal experiments demonstrate that K _D (= (Fe/Mg)_gt/(Fe/Mg)_OI) is strongly dependent on Fe/Mg ratio and on the calcium content of the garnet. For example, at 1,000 °C/30 kb, K _D varies from about 1.2 in very iron-rich compositions to 1.9 at the magnesium end of the series. Increasing the mole fraction of calcium in the garnet from 0 to 0.3 at 1,000 ° C increases K _D in magnesian compositions from 1.9 to about 2.5.The observed temperature and composition dependence of K _D has been formulated into an equation suitable for geothermometry by considering the solid solution properties of the olivine and garnet phases. It was found that, within experimental error, the simplest kind of nonideal solution model (Regular Solution) fits the experimental data adequately. The use of more complex models did not markedly improve the fit to the data, so the model with the least number of variables was adopted.Multiple linear regression of the experimental data (72 points) yielded, for the exchange reaction: 3Fe₂SiO₄+2Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ olivine garnet 2Fe₂Al₂Si₃O₁₂+3Mg₂SiO₄ garnet olivine H ° (30kb) of –10,750 cal and S ° of –4.26 cal deg^–1 mol^–1. Absolute magnitudes of interaction parameters (W _ij ) derived from the regression are subject to considerable uncertainty. The partition coefficient is, however, strongly dependent on the following differences between solution parameters and these differences are fairly well constrained: W _FeMg ^ol -W _FeMg ^gt 800 cal W _CaMg ^gt -W _CaFe ^gt 2,670 cal.The geothermometer is most sensitive in the temperature and composition regions where K _D is substantially greater than 1. Thus, for example, peridotitic compositions at temperatures less than about 1,300 ° C should yield calculated temperatures within 60 °C of the true value. Iron rich compositions (at any temperature) and magnesian compositions at temperatures well above 1,300 °C could not be expected to yield accurate calculated temperatures.For a fixed K _D the influence of pressure is to raise the calculated temperature by between 3 and 6 °C per kbar.     

An experimental study of Fe-Mg partitioning between olivine and orthopyroxene at 1173, 1273 and 1423 K and 1.6 GPa

The partitioning of Mg and Fe²⁺ between coexisting olivines and orthopyroxenes in the system MgO-FeO-SiO₂ has been investigated experimentally at 1173, 1273, 1423 K and 1.6 GPa over the whole range of Mg/Fe ratios. The use of barium borosilicate as a flux to promote grain growth, and the identification by back-scattered electron imaging of resulting growth rims suitable for analysis by electron microprobe, results in coexisting olivine and orthopyroxenene compositions determined to a precision of±0.003 to 0.004 in molar Fe/(Mg+Fe). Quasi-reversal experiments were performed starting with Mg-rich olivine and Fe-rich orthopyroxene (low K_D) and vice versa (high K_D), which produced indistinguishable results. The distribution coefficient, K_D, depends on composition and on temperature, but near Fe/(Mg+Fe)=0.1 (i.e. mantle compositions) these effects cancel out, and K_D is insensitive to temperature. The results agree well with previous experimental investigations, and constrain the thermodynamic mixing properties of Mg-Fe olivine solid solutions to show small near-symmetric deviations from ideality, with between 2000 and 8000 J/mol. Multiple non-linear least squares regression of all data gave a best fit with (implying 5450 J/mol at 1 bar) and , but the two W _G parameters are so highly correlated with each other that our data are almost equally well fit with , as obtained by Wiser and Wood. This value implies , apparently independent of temperature. Our experimental results are not compatible with the assessment of olivine-orthopyroxene equilibria of Sack and Ghiorso.     

An experimental study of the Fe-Mn exchange between garnet and ilmenite

The exchange equilibrium

Fe-Mn partitioning between garnet and ilmenite: experimental calibration and applications

A new mineralogic geothermometer based on the partitioning of Fe and Mn between garnet and ilmenite has been calibrated by reversal experiments in the P-T range 600–900° C, 2 and 5 kbars and for fO₂=QFM. The results constitute a sensitive geothermometer applicable over a broad range of composition and conditions. Garnetilmenite thermometry has advantages relative to existing geothermometers because of its accurate calibration, marked temperature sensitivity and the chemical and structural simplicity of the crystalline solutions involved. Application to natural assemblages reveals that the garnet-ilmenite geothermometer yields temperatures that agree well with other estimates. The reactivity of, and relatively rapid Fe-Mn diffusion in ilmenite may lead to retrograde resetting of high temperature partition values, but these factors may be useful for estimating rock cooling rates. Analysis of the experimental data indicates minor positive deviations from ideality for Fe-Mn garnets and ilmenites. Absolute magnitudes of interaction parameters (W _AB) derived from a regression analysis are subject to considerable uncertainty. The partition coefficient is, however, strongly dependent on the difference between solution parameters. These differences are well constrained with a magnitude of W _FeMn ^ilm –W _FeMn ^gar 300 cal mol^–1. The accuracy and applicability of garnet-ilmenite thermometry will improve with the availability of better thermodynamic data for garnet crystalline solutions.Abbreviations and symbols used in text R universal gas constant (cal/mol/°K) - T absolute temperature (°K or °C) - P pressure (kbars) - V ⁰ volume change of reaction (1) - H _{1, T} ⁰ standard state enthalpy change of reaction (1) at 1 bar and the T of interest, in cal/mole - S _T ⁰ entropy change of reaction (1) at T of interest, in cal/mole/°K - G _P,T ⁰ standard free energy change of reaction (1) at the T and P of interest, in cal/mole - distribution coefficient for Fe-Mn partitioning between garnet and ilmenite - K apparent equilibrium coefficient for reaction (1) - _i ^j activity of component i in phase j - W _A-B binary A-B interaction (Margules) parameter - gar garnet - ilm ilmenite - biot biotite - ol olivine - opx orthopyroxene     

Electron microscopical study of garnet exsolution in orthopyroxene

By means of electron-optical methods the structure and orientation of lamella-like garnet exsolutions in an orthopyroxene from the eclogite of Gilsberg, Saxony Granulite Complex, are investigated. It can be shown that besides the macroscopic and microscopic submicroscopic exsolution lamellae also exist; they have widths up to nearly 5 nm. The intergrowth conditions are such shat (100)_op is parallel to {100}_gr and [001]_op parallel to 〈110〉_gr. The lamellae are coherent, but sometimes extended dislocation arrangements are found in microscopic lamellae which are caused by a deformation. These investigations point to formation of the rock as a result of a solid state reaction under high pressure conditions with subsequent diffusive-dissociative exsolution of garnet from primary pyroxene.     

Thermodynamic analysis of Fe and Mg partitioning between plagioclase and silicate liquid

 Thermodynamic analysis of Fe- and Mg-bearing plagioclase and silicate liquid was carried out based on reported element partitioning data between plagioclase and silicate liquid in reduced conditions, solution properties of ternary feldspar, standard state properties of plagioclase endmembers and solution properties of multicomponent silicate liquid. Derived mixing properties of Fe- and Mg-bearing plagioclase are in harmony with estimated results from synthetic experiments in the systems CaAl₂Si₂O₈-CaFeSi₃O₈ and CaAl₂Si₂O₈-CaMgSi₃O₈. Based on the determined solution properties of the plagioclase, a computer program to calculate the element partition relationships between Fe- and Mg-bearing plagioclase and multicomponent silicate liquid was developed. The FeO, MgO and MgO/(MgO + FeO) in plagioclase predicted from known liquid compositions and pressure are in agreement with measurements within 0.2 wt%, 0.1 wt% and 0.1 (mol ratio), respectively. The Fe³⁺ content in plagioclase crystallized at high oxygen fugacity can be estimated with this program. The Fe³⁺/total Fe ratio in plagioclase crystallized near the quartz-fayalite-magnetite buffer ranges from 0 to 0.5, which is consistent with previous study on natural plagioclase in submarine basalt. Derived solution properties of the Fe- and Mg-bearing plagioclase are also used to calculate equilibrium composition relationship between olivine and plagioclase. Change of X _Fo in olivine coexisting with plagioclase affects MgO and FeO contents in plagioclase greatly. The present model predicts X _Fo of coexisting olivine from the chemical composition of plagioclase to ±0.1 accuracy at given pressure and temperature. Received: 27 March 1998 / Accepted: 30 September 1999     

An experimental investigation of the partitioning of REE between garnet and liquid with reference to the role of defect equilibria

The partitioning of samarium and thulium between garnets and melts in the systems Mg₃Al₂-Si₃O₁₂-H₂O and Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂-H₂O has been studied as a function of REE concentration in the garnets at 30 kbar pressure. Synthesis experiments of variable time under constant P, T conditions indicate that garnet initially crystallizes rapidly to produce apparent values of D _Sm (D _Sm=concentration of Sm in garnet/concentration of Sm in liquid) which are too large in the case of pyrope and too small in the case of grossular. As the experiment proceeds, Sm diffuses out of or into the garnet and the equilibrium value of D _Sm is approached. Approximate values of diffusion coefficients for Sm in pyrope garnet obtained by this method are 6 × 10^–13 cm² s^–1 at 1,300 ° C and 2 × 10^–12 cm² s^–1 at 1,500 ° C, and for grossular, 8.3 × 10^–12 cm² s^–1 at 1,200 ° C and 4.6 × 10^–11 cm² s^–1 at 1,300 ° C. The equilibrium values of D _Sm have been reversed by experiments with Sm-free pyrope and Sm-bearing glass, and with Sm-bearing grossular and Sm-free glass.Between 12 ppm and 1,000 ppm Sm in pyrope at 1,300 ° C and between 80 ppm and >2 wt.% Tm in pyrope at 1,500 ° C, partition coefficients are constant and independent of REE concentration. Above 100 ppm of Sm in garnet at 1,500 ° C, partition coefficients are independent of Sm concentration. At lower concentrations, however, D _Sm is dependent upon the Sm content of the garnet. The two regions may be interpreted in terms of charge-balanced substitution of Sm₃Al₅O₁₂ in the garnet at high Sm concentrations and defect equilibria involving cation vacancies at low concentrations. At very low REE concentrations (< 1 ppm Tm in grossular at 1,300 ° C) D_REE garnet/liquid again becomes constant with an apparent Henry's Law value greater than that at high concentrations. This may be interpreted in terms of a large abundance of cation vacancies relative to the number of REE ions.The importance of defects in the low concentration region has been confirmed by adding other REE (at 80 ppm level) to the system Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂-H₂O at low Sm concentrations. These change D _Sm in the defect region, demonstrating their role in the production of vacancies.Experiments on a natural pyropic garnet indicate that defect equilibria are of importance to REE partitioning within the concentration ranges found in nature.     

Thermochemistry of (Fe2+, Mg)SiO3 orthopyroxene

Enthalpies of solution in eutectic (Li, Na)₂B₂O₄ melts at 1023 K were measured for five synthetic orthopyroxenes on the join MgSiO₃-FeSiO₃. The pyroxenes were synthesized at 1120°C and 20 kbar and thus were presumed to be highly disordered. The measurements indicate a small positive enthalpy of mixing, with W_H = 950 cal/MSiO₃.Enthalpy of solution measurements were made on a natural, well-ordered orthopyroxene near the composition En_52.5Fs_47.5 and on this material after heat-treatment at 1150°C and 20 kbar. Irreversible expansion of the unit-cell constants of the natural pyroxene after heat-treatment at various temperatures was used to characterize the degree of M-site disorder. The observed enthalpy of solution decrement of 0.85 kcal/MSiO₃ between the natural En_52.5 and the same material heated at 1150° corresponds to about half of the maximum possible disordering, or ΔX_Fe^M1? 0.25, which leads to a ΔH of 7.5 kcal/M₂Si₂O₆, for the exchange reaction: Fe(M2) + Mg(Ml) = Fe(Ml) + Mg(M2) if M-site interaction energy terms are ignored. This ΔH is larger than inferred from any of the analyses of site-occupancy data except that of Besancon (1981), who gave a very similar value. The measured ΔH of disorder and the W_H of mixing together indicate a large ΔH as great as 3.2 kcal for the reciprocal reaction: Fe₂Si₂O₆ + Mg₂Si₂O₆ = Fe(M2)Mg(M1)Si₂O₆ + Fe(M1)Mg(M2)Si₂O₆ as anticipated by Sack (1980).As a consequence of the inferred magnitudes of ΔHof the exchange and reciprocal reactions, departures from ideality of Gibbs energy of mixing of orthopyroxene are very small at 700°–1000°C. Activities of MgSiO₃ and FeSiO₃ may be replaced by their mol fractions at all temperatures in most petrologic calculations.     

The effect of garnet cell volume on the distribution of Mg and Fe in garnet exchange equilibria

The distribution of Mg in garnet exchange equilibria has been examined in three regional metamorphic and four eclogitic parageneses. Garnet cell volume has been found to have a significant effect on the distribution of Mg between garnet and coexisting ferromagnesian minerals. When the activity of Mg is corrected for the variation in cell volume, the range in variation of the distribution coefficients is strongly reduced within each group. Also the relative positions of the different groups in the distribution diagrams are in better accordance with geological evidence of crystallization temperatures. It is proposed that the effect of the garnet cell volume on the Mg distribution may be used as a geobarometer. The distribution of Ca between garnet and plagioclase is also discussed and it is found that the Ca partitioning is not suitable for geobarometry, as this partioning is dependent on the Mg/Fe ratio of the garnet.     

An experimental study of Ca-(Fe,Mg) interdiffusion in silicate garnets

Ca-(Fe,Mg) interdiffusion experiments between natural single crystals of grossular (Ca_2.74Mg_0.15 Fe_0.23Al_1.76Cr_0.04Si_3.05O₁₂) and almandine (Ca_0.21Mg_0.40 Fe_2.23Mn_0.13Al_2.00Cr_0.08Si_2.99O₁₂ or Ca_0.43Mg_0.36Fe_2.11 Al_1.95Si_3.04O₁₂), were undertaken at 900–1100 °C and 30 kbar, and pressures of 15.0–32.5 kbar at 1000 °C. Samples were buffered by Fe/FeO in most cases. Diffusion profiles were determined by electron microprobe. Across the experimental couples the interdiffusion coefficients (D˜) were almost independent of composition. The diffusion rates in an unbuffered sample were significantly faster than in buffered samples. The temperature dependence of the D˜ (Ca-Fe,Mg) interdiffusion coefficients may be described by

Transmission electron microscope study of dislocations in orthopyroxene (Mg,Fe)2Si2O6

The orthopyroxene crystal structure can be viewed as the stacking of alternating tetrahedral and octahedral layers parallel to the (100) plane. Easy glide occurs in the (100) plane at the level of the octahedral layer to prevent breakage of the strong Si-O bonds. Dislocations with c and b Burgers vectors have been activated in (100) by room temperature indentation in an orthoenstatite gem quality single crystal. Investigations in transmission electron microscopy show that the b dislocations (b?9 Å) are not dissociated while the c's (c=5.24 Å) are dissociated into four partials. This result is interpreted by considering the oxygen sublattice as a distorted FCC one. The four c partials are thus Shockley partials bounding three stacking faults. For the two outer ones, synchroshear of the cations is necessary to keep unchanged their sixfold coordination; the oxygen sublattice is locally transformed into a HCP lattice. This accounts for the observed low splitting (?100 Å) of these faults as compared to the median one (?500 Å) which does not affect the oxygen sublattice and does not require cation synchroshear. In a Fe rich orthopyroxene (eulite), semi coherent exsolution lamellae have been studied. Either only c edge dislocations or both b and c edge dislocations occur in the phase boundaries depending upon the thickness of the lamellae. Only the c dislocations are dissociated. From the observed spacing between these mismatch dislocations a crude estimate of the exsolution temperature is proposed T _ex ? 700° C.     

The partitioning of Fe and Mg between olivine and carbonate and the stability of carbonate under mantle conditions

We have investigated the effect of Fe on the stabilities of carbonate (carb) in lherzolite assemblages by determining the partitioning of Fe and Mg between silicate (olivine; ol) and carbonates (magnesite, dolomite, magnesian calcite) at high pressures and temperatures. Fe enters olivine preferentially relative to magnesite and ordered dolomite, but Fe and Mg partition almost equally between disordered calcic carbonate and olivine. Measurement of K _d (X _Fe ^carb X _Mg ^ol /X _Fe ^ol X _Mg ^carb ) as a function of Fe/ Mg ratio indicates that Fe–Mg carbonates deviate only slightly from ideality. Using the regular solution parameter for olivine W _FeMg ^ol of 3.7±0.8 kJ/mol (Wiser and Wood 1991) we obtain for (FeMg)CO₃ a W _FeMg ^carb of 3.05±1.50 kJ/mol. The effect of Ca–Mg–Fe disordering is to raise K _d substantially enabling us to calculate W _CaMg ^carb -W _CaFe ^carb of 5.3±2.2 kJ/mol. The activity-composition relationships and partitioning data have been used to calculate the effect of Fe/Mg ratio on mantle decarbonation and exchange reactions. We find that carbonate (dolomite and magnesian calcite) is stable to slightly lower pressures (by 1 kbar) in mantle lherzolitic assemblages than in the CaO–MgO–SiO₂(CMS)–CO₂ system. The high pressure breakdown of dolomite + orthopyroxene to magnesite + clinopyroxene is displaced to higher pressures (by 2 kbar) in natural compositions relative to CMS. CO₂. We also find a stability field of magnesian calcite in lherzolite at 15–25 kbar and 750–1000°C.     

REE partitioning between monazite and garnet: Implications for petrochronology

Rare‐earth element and Y partitioning between garnet and monazite was measured in metamorphic rocks from western Norway to provide more confidence in tying monazite U/Th–Pb dates to P–T conditions recorded in garnet. A subset of samples has low‐Y garnet mantles and low‐Y monazite cores that gave Y‐partitioning temperatures similar to independently determined metamorphic temperatures. In combination with previously published data, these monazite–garnet pairs have temperature‐dependent partitioning of the HREE from Dy to Lu, and nonsystematic partitioning of the LREE from La–Gd. The temperature‐dependent partitioning must be considered when using HREE to assess which portions of garnet and monazite might have coexisted, but experiments are needed to place the dependence on a firm footing.     

The solubility of alumina in orthopyroxene coexisting with garnet

The solubility of alumina in complex orthopyroxenes crystallised in equilibrium with garnet has been determined over the pressure-temperature range 8–30 Kb and 800–1250° C. The results are in good agreement with predictions made using the simple thermodynamic model of Wood and Banno (1973). The model has been refined using a combination of the new data on orthopyroxenes of about En₆₀Fs₄₀ (with variable calcium content) and previously published data on more magnesian systems. Given analyses of coexisting Orthopyroxene and garnet in natural assemblages it is possible to calculate a P-T curve for the rock which should, in most cases, be accurate to within 2 or 3 kbar.     

Fe–Mg partitioning between ringwoodite and magnesiowüstite and the effect of pressure, temperature and oxygen fugacity

 The partitioning of Mg and Fe between magnesiowüstite and ringwoodite solid solutions has been measured between 15 and 23 GPa and 1200–1600 ^∘C using both Fe and Re capsule materials to vary the oxidation conditions. The partitioning results show a clear dependence on the capsule material used due to the variation in Fe³⁺ concentrations as a consequence of the different oxidation environments. Using results from experiments performed in Fe capsules, where metallic Fe was also added to the starting materials, the difference in the interaction parameters for the two solid solutions (W _FeMg ^mw−W _FeMg ^ring) is calculated to be 8.5±1 kJ mol⁻¹. Similar experiments performed in Re metal capsules result in a value for W _FeMg ^mw−W _FeMg ^ring that is apparently 4 kJ higher, if all Fe is assumed to be FeO. Electron energy-loss near-edge structure (ELNES) spectroscopic analyses, however, show Fe³⁺ concentrations to be approximately three times higher in magnesiowüstite produced in Re capsules than in Fe capsules and that Fe³⁺ partitions preferentially into magnesiowüstite, with K _{D Fe3+} ^ring/mw estimated between 0.1 and 0.6. Using an existing activity composition model for magnesiowüstite, a least–squares fit to the partitioning data collected in Fe capsules results in a value for the ringwoodite interaction parameter (W _FeMg ^ring) of 3.5±1 kJ mol⁻¹. The equivalent regular interaction parameter for magnesiowüstite (W _FeMg ^mw) is 12.1±1.8 kJ mol. These determinations take into account the Fe³⁺ concentrations that occur in both phases in the presence of metallic Fe. The free energy change in J mol⁻¹ for the Fe exchange reaction can be described, over the range of experimental conditions, by 912 + 4.15 (T−298)+18.9P with T in K, P in kbar. The estimated volume change for this reaction is smaller than that predicted using current compilations of equation of state data and is much closer to the volume change at ambient conditions. These results are therefore a useful test of high pressure and temperature equation of state data. Using thermodynamic data consistent with this study the reaction of ringwoodite to form magnesiowüstite and stishovite is calculated from the data collected using Fe capsules. Comparison of these results with previous studies shows that the presence of Fe³⁺ in phases produced in multianvil experiments using Re capsules can have a marked effect on apparent phase relations and determined thermodynamic properties. Received: 13 September 2000 / Accepted: 25 March 2001