Phase relationships in the system KAlSiO4-Mg2SiO4-SiO2-H2O as a model for hybridization between hydrous siliceous melts and peridotite

The system KAlSiO₄-Mg₂SiO₄-SiO₂-H₂O includes model representatives of (1) hydrous siliceous magma from subducted oceanic crust — the eutectic liquid in KAlSi₃O₈-SiO₂-H₂O, and (2) the overlying mantle peridotite — the assemblage forsterite+enstatite (Fo+En). In a series of partly schematic isobaric isothermal sections, the products of hybridization between the model materials at pressures between 20 and 30 kbar have been determined. The liquid dissolves peridotite components with little change in composition. Hybridization is not a simple mixing process, because of the incongruent melting of peridotitic assemblages with phlogopite (Ph). Hybridization causes solidification of the liquid, with products a sequence of three mineral assemblages: Ph, Ph+quartz (Qz), and Ph+En. The products represent an absolute geochemical separation and local concentration of all potassium from the liquid. Hybridization is accompanied by H₂O-saturation of melts, and evolution of aqueous fluid. Although there are significant differences between the melt composition and that of the magma rising from subducted oceanic slab, and between Fo+En and the mantle rock, extrapolation of the results suggests that the conclusions can probably be extended to mantle conditions with sodium in the melt, and jadeitic clinopyroxene included in the hybrid products.     

Relationships between silicate melts and carbonate-precipitating melts in CaO-MgO-SiO2-CO2-H2O at 2 kbar

Summary Phase fields intersected by three joins in the System CaO-MgO-SiO₂-CO₂-H₂O at 2 kbar were investigated experimentally to determine the melting relationships and the sequences of crystallization of liquids co-precipitating silicate minerals and carbonates. These joins connect SiO₂ to three mixtures of CaCO₃-MgCO₃-Mg(OH)₂ with compositions on the primary îield for calcite, between the composition CaCO₃ and the low-temperature (650°C eutectic liquid co-precipitating calcite, dolomite and periclase. In the pseudo-quaternary tetrahedron calcite-magnesite-brucite-diopside, two of the significant reactions found are: (1) a eutectic at 650°C, calcite + dolomite + periclase + forsterite + vapor = liquid, and (2) a peritectic at 1038°Cwhich is either calcite + åkermanite + forsterite + vapor = monticellite + liquid calcite + monticellite + forsterite + vapor = åkermanite + liquid. The eutectic liquid has high MgO/CaO and CO₂/H₂O and only 2–3% SiO₂ (estimated 15–20% MgCO₃, 35–40% CaCO₃, 40–45% Mg(OH)₂, and 5–6% Mg₂SiO₄). The composition joins intersect a thermal maximum for åkermanite + forsterite + vapor = liquid, which separates high-temperature liquids precipitating silicates together with a little calcite, from low-temperature liquids precipitating carbonates with a few percent of forsterite; there is no direct path between the silicate and synthetic carbonatite liquids on these joins, but it is possible that fractionating liquid paths diverging from the joins may connect them. More complex relationships involving the pprecipitatioon off monticellite and åkermanite are also outlined. Magnetite-magnesioferrite may replace periclase in natural magmatic systems. The results indicate that the assemblage calcite-dolomite-magnetite-forsterite represents the closing stages of crystallization of carbonatites, whereas assemblages such as calcite-magnetite-forsterite and dolomite-magnetite-forsterite span the whole range of carbonatite evolution in terms of temperature and composition, and provide the link between liquids precipitating silicates and those precipitating carbonates.

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Die Beziehungen zwischen silikarischen Schmelzen und karbonatbildenden Schmelzen im System CaO-MgO-SiO₂-CO₂-H₂O bei 2 kbar

Zusammenfassung Phasenfelder, die durch den Schnitt von drei Verbindungslinien im System CaO-MgO-SiO₂-CO₂-H₂Odefiniert werden, wurden experimentell bei 2 kbar untersucht, um die Schmelzbeziehungen und die Kristallisationsfolge von Schmelzen, die gleichzeitig silikatische und karbonatische Minerale ausscheiden, zu bestimmen. Diese Linien verbinden SiO₂ mit drei Mischungen von CaCO₃-M9CO₃-Mg(OH)₂ mit Zusammensetzungen im primären Calcitfeld, zwischen der Zusammensetzung CaCO₃ und der tieftemperierten (650°C Calcit-, Dolomit- und Periklasbildenden eutektischen Schmelze. Zwei wichtige im ppseudo-quaternären Tetraeder Calcit-Magnetit-Brucit-Diopsid gefundene Reaktionen sind: (1) Ein Eutektikum bei 650°C Calcit + Dolomit + Periklas + Forsterit + Vapor = Liquid und (2) ein Peritektikum bei 1038°C mit entweder Calcit + Åkermanit + Forsterit + Vapor = Monticellit + Liquid oder Calcit + Monticellit + Forsterit + Vapo = Åkermanit + Liquid Die eutektische Schmelze zeigt hohe MgO/CaO und CCO₂H₂O Verhältnisse und nur 2–3% SiO₂(geschätzter Anteil an MgCO₃15–20%, CaCO₃ 35–40%, Mg(OH)₂ 40–50% und Mg₂SiO₄ 5–6%). Die Verbindungslinie schneidet ein thermisches Maximum von Åkermanit + Forsterit + Vapor = Liquid, das höher temperierte Schmelzen, die Silikate gemeinsam mit etwas Clacit ausscheiden, von tiefer temperierten Schmelzen trennt, aus denen sich Karbonate gemeinsam mit wenigen Prozenten Forsterit abscheiden. Es existiert keine direkte Verbindung zwischen silikatischen und synthetischen karbonatitischen Schmelzen entlang dieser Verbindungslinien, es wäre aber möglich, daß Fraktionierungspfade, die von diesen Verbindungslinien ausgehen, sie verbinden. Komplexere Beziehungen, die die Kristallisation von Monticellit und Åkermanit beinhalten, werden ebenfalls aufgezeigt. Magnetit-Magnesioferrit könntean die Stelle von Periklas in nnatürlichenmagmatischen Systemen treten. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf bin, daß die Vergesellschaftung Calcit-Dolomit-Magnetit-Forsterit das Endstadium der Karbonatitkristallisation repräsentiert, während die Vergesellsschaftungen von Calcit-Magnetit-Forsterit bzw. Dolomit-Magnetit-Forsterit die gesamte Spannweite der Karbonatitevolution hinsichtlich Temperatur und Zusammensetzung umfassen und demnach ein Verbindungsglied zwischen silikat- und karbonatausscheidenden Schmelzen darstellen.

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With 8 Figures     

Molecular dynamics simulations of interdiffusion in MgSiO3-Mg2SiO4 melts

Molecular dynamics simulations based on ab initio interatomic potentials have been performed to study the kinetics and mechanisms of interdiffusion in MgSiO₃ and Mg₂SiO₄ melts. Diffusion coefficients in the presence of a concentration gradient are lower than self-diffusion coefficients due to the requirements of local charge-balance within the system. Extrapolations of Mg²⁺ diffusion coefficients obtained at high temperatures (5000 to 3000 K) into geologically relevant temperatures (1500 to 2500 K) are reasonably accurate compared to experimental Mg²⁺ diffusion coefficients in a compositionally similar system. A significant system-size effect is also observed on the rates of diffusion obtained from the molecular dynamics simulations. Diffusion mechanisms involve movement of individual Mg²⁺ and O^2- ions and anionic [SiO_n]^(4–2n) complexes for both self-diffusion and interdiffusion.     

Experimental study of the effect of SiO2 on Ni solubility in silicate melts

The solubility of Ni in silicate melts with variable SiO₂ content was studied at a total pressure of 1 atm within a wide range of temperature and oxygen fugacity. The maximum solubility of Ni (minimum activity coefficient of NiO) was observed in melts with ～55–57 wt % SiO₂, regardless of temperature and oxygen fugacity. Melts beyond this range showed significantly lower Ni solubility and, correspondingly, higher NiO activity coefficients. The analysis of our results and literature data led us to the conclusion that the NBO/T (number of nonbridging oxygen atoms per tetrahedrally coordinated atom) is inadequate to describe the effect of melt composition on Ni solubility.     

Thermodynamics and behavior of γ-Mg2SiO4 at high pressure: Implications for Mg2SiO4 phase equilibrium

Raman spectra of γ-Mg₂SiO₄ taken to 200 kbar were used to calculate entropy and heat capacity at various P-T conditions. These new thermodynamic data on γ-MgSiO₄, similar data on MgSiO₃ perovskite (pv), previous data on β-MgSiO₄ and MgO (mw), and previous volumetric data of all phases were used to calculate the phase boundaries in the Mg₂SiO₄ phase diagram. Our resulting slope for the β→γ transition (50±4 bar K^-1) is in excellent agreement with recent multi-anvil studies. The slopes for the β→pv+MgO and γ→pv+MgO are-7±3 and -25±4 bar K^-1, respectively, and are consistent with our CO₂ laser heated diamond anvil studies. These slopes result in a β-γ-MgO+pv triple point at approximately 229 kbar and 2260 K for the iron free system.     

Studies in the system KAlSiO4-BaAl2Si2O8-SiO2-H2O

Various members of the KAlSi₃O₈-BaAl₂Si₂O₈ feldspar series are hydrothermally synthesized. Cellparameters of these are calculated from diffractometer patterns and found to be similar to those of Gay and Roy. A variation diagram is constructed correlating Cn-content and values of Δ_FeKα(2θ₍₁₁₁₎CaF₂—2θ₍₀₀₄₎Fs_ss), which gives $${\text{Mol}}\% {\text{ Cn = 229}}{\text{.83}}\Delta {\text{2}}\theta ---{\text{190}}{\text{.81}}$$ by a least square regression fitting. Phase equilibria relation in the solidus-liquidus-region for the KAlSi₃O₈-BaAl₂Si₂O₈-H₂O system at 1000 kg/cm² are investigated. It is found to be a case of simple solid solution in a binary system, with reservations at the potassium-rich side of the system. Goranson (1938) gives a temperature of about 1000°C at 1000 kg/cm² \(P_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} \) for the incongruent melting of sanidine, but the authors prefer a value around 930°C at the same \(P_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} \) . Reaction products of starting materials on the join KAlSi₂O₆-BaAl₂Si₂O₈ and KAlSiO₄-BaAl₂Si₂O₈ gave no experimental hint for replacement of K⁺ by Ba⁺⁺.     

The effect of fluorine on liquidus phase relationships in the system Qz-Ab-Or with excess water at 1 kb

Liquidus phase relationships have been determined experimentally for the system Qz-Ab-Or with excess water and 1, 2, and 4 wt.% added fluorine at 1 kb pressure. With increasing fluorine content the position of the quartz-alkali feldspar field boundary moves away from the quartz apex. The position of the minimum melting composition and the minimum liquidus temperature change progressively from Qz₃₇Ab₃₄Or₂₉ and 730° C for the fluorine free system (Tuttle and Bowen 1958) to Qz₁₅Ab₅₈Or₂₇ and 630° C for the system with 4 wt.% added fluorine. Exploratory experiments have been carried out below the liquidus, and have indicated that for certain bulk compositions an assemblage consisting of two alkali feldspars, quartz, melt and vapour can exist at temperatures as low as 550° C at 1 kb.The experimental results suggest that there may be an interaction between fluorine and aluminosilicate complexes present within the melt, to produce aluminofluoride (AlF ₆ ^3– ) complex anions (Manning et al. 1980). The observed changes in liquidus phase relationships with increasing fluorine content indicate that the compositions of certain fluorine-rich granitic rocks are consistent with an origin by crystallisation of residual melts enriched in fluorine by magmatic differentiation. Such residual melts may exist at relatively low temperatures, and may form part of a continuum between granite magmatism and associated hydrothermal activity. Because of the observed preference of fluorine for aluminosilicate phases at the magmatic stage, the presence of fluorine alone is not considered to play a direct part in the generation of residual mineralising hydrothermal fluids.     

The discrete association of water with Na2O and SiO2 in NaAl silicate melts

The solubility of water in several NaAl silicate melts has been determined up to 8 kbars. The results are shown on a (fugacity)^1/2 versus mole percent solubility diagram and data points for any composition can be joined by 2 or more straight lines. It is suggested that each straight line segment represents a different water-solubility mechanism.     

Raman spectra of hydrous γ -Mg2SiO4 at various pressures and temperatures

 One well-defined OH Raman band at 3651 ± 1 cm⁻¹ and one weak feature near 3700 ± 5 cm⁻¹ are recognized for the hydrous γ-phase of Mg₂SiO₄. Like the hydrous β-phase, the H₂O content in the γ-phase shifts most of the corresponding silicate modes towards lower frequencies. Variations in Raman spectra of the hydrous γ-phase were investigated up to about 200 kbar at room temperature and in the range 81–873 K at atmospheric pressure. Unlike the anhydrous γ-phase, which remains intact up to at least 873 K, the hydrous γ-phase sometimes converts to a defective forsterite structure above 800 K. Although the hydrous γ-phase remains intact up to at least 800 K, Raman signals of the OH bands disappear completely above 423 K. The Raman frequency of the well-defined OH band decreases linearly with increasing temperature between 81 and 423 K. In the region of the silicate vibrations, the Raman frequencies of the two most intense bands increase nonlinearly with increasing pressure, and decrease with increasing temperature. The frequencies for all other weak bands, however, decreased linearly with increasing temperature. The latter most likely reflects the larger scatter of the data for the weak bands. Received: 27 April 2001 / Accepted: 12 September 2001     

Solubility and solution mechanism of H2O in alkali silicate melts and glasses at high pressure and temperature

The solubility behavior of H₂O in melts in the system Na₂O-SiO₂-H₂O was determined by locating the univariant phase boundary, melt = melt + vapor in the 0.8-2 GPa and 1000°-1300°C pressure and temperature range, respectively. The NBO/Si-range of the melts (0.25-1) was chosen to cover that of most natural magmatic liquids. The H₂O solubility in melts in the system Na₂O-SiO₂-H₂O (X_H2O) ranges between 18 and 45 mol% (O = 1) with (∂X_H2O/∂P)_T∼14-18 mol% H₂O/GPa. The (∂X_H2O/∂P)_T is negatively correlated with NBO/Si (= Na/Si) of the melt. The (∂X_H2O/∂T)_P is in the −0.03 to +0.05 mol% H₂O/°C range, and is negatively correlated with NBO/Si. The [∂X_H2O/∂(NBO/Si)]_P,T is in the −3 to −8 mol% H₂O/(NBO/Si) range. Melts with NBO/Si similar to basaltic liquids (∼0.6-∼1.0) show (∂X_H2O/∂T)_P<0, whereas more polymerized melts exhibit (∂X_H2O/∂T)_P>0. Complete miscibility between hydrous melt and aqueous fluid occurs in the 0.8-2 GPa pressure range for melts with NBO/Si ≤0.5 at T >1100°C. Miscibility occurs at lower pressure the more polymerized the melt.     

Interaction between fluorine and silica in quenched melts on the joins SiO2-AlF3 and SiO2-NaF determined by raman spectroscopy

The solubility mechanism of fluorine in quenched SiO₂-NaF and SiO₂-AlF₃ melts has been determined with Raman spectroscopy. In the fluorine abundance range of F/(F+Si) from 0.15 to 0.5, a portion of the fluorine is exchanged with bridging oxygen in the silicate network to form Si-F bonds. In individual SiO₄-tetrahedra, one oxygen per silicon is replaced in this manner to form fluorine-bearing silicate complexes in the melt. The proportion of these complexes is nearly linearly correlated with bulk melt F/(F+Si) in the system SiO₂-AlF₃, but its abundance increases at a lower rate and nonlinearly with increasing F/(F+Si) in the system SiO₂-NaF. The process results in the formation ofnonbridging oxygen (NBO), resulting in stabilization of Si₂O ₅ ^2? units as well as metal (Na⁺ or Al³⁺) fluoride complexes in the melts. Sodium fluoride complexes are significantly more stable than those of aluminum fluoride.     

The origin of chondrules: experimental investigation of metastable liquids in the system Mg2SiO4-SiO2

Laser-melted magnesium silicate droplets, supercooled 400–750°C below their equilibrium liquidus temperatures before crystallization, were examined to provide a comparison with meteoritic and lunar chondrules and to examine physicochemical parameters that may indicate the conditions of their formation. Internal textures of the spherules strikingly resemble textures observed in some chondrules. Definite trends in crystal morphology, crystal width and texture were established with respect to nucleation temperature and bulk composition. Such trends provide a framework for determining the nucleation temperature of chondrules. The only phase to nucleate from the supercooled forsterite-enstatite normative melts was forsterite, which was present in more-than-normative amounts. Highly siliceous glass (~65wt. % SiO₂) was identified interstitially to the forsterite crystals in seven of the spherules and is thought to be present in all. The presence of enstatite and the large proportion of crystals in some meteoritic chondrules implies that they were maintained at temperatures considerably in excess of 600°C at some point in their history.     

The system Mg2SiO4-Ca2SiO4-CaAl2O4-NaAlSiO4-SiO2: one atmosphere liquidus equilibria of analogs of alkaline mafic lavas

One atmosphere liquidus relationships in the system Mg₂SiO₄ (Fo)–Ca₂SiO₄ (La)–NaAlSiO₄ (Ne)–CaAl₂O₄ (CA)–SiO₂ (Sil) are presented as analogs for alkaline mafic lavas. Liquidus diagrams are constructed from electron microprobe analyses of quenched liquids and coexisting mineral phases produced in melting experiments and they are depicted in terms of sub-projections within the pseudo-quaternary system Fo–La–[Ne,CA]–Sil. The Ne and CA components are combined to create a normative feldspathoid component defined as Ne#=Ne/[Ne+CA]. Liquidus relations at Ne#=0.5 from this study are compared to relations at Ne#=0.0 and 1.0 from previous studies. In general, liquidus temperatures decrease and positions of liquidus boundaries involving feldspathic phases shift toward the [Ne, CA] component as Ne# increases. The pseudoinvariant points fo+di+pl+mel+l and fo+pl+mel+sp+l exist at Ne#=0.5. These equilibria between forsterite-plagioclase-melilite-liquid are not present in the system when Ne#=1.0 because a boundary curve (fo+di+ne+l) separates the plagioclase and melilite liquidus fields. The liquidus diagrams provide useful analogs for the crystallization sequences of natural primary alkali olivine basalts, basanitoids, basanites, olivine nephelinites, olivine-melilite nephelinites and olivine melilitites.     

The solubility of alumina in enstatite and the phase equilibria in the join MgSiO3-MgAl2SiO6 at 10–25 kbar

The solubility of alumina in enstatite was determined in the range of 1100–1500° C and 10–25 kbar. The alumina content in enstatite coexisting with sapphirine and quartz increases with increasing temperature and pressure, while that in enstatite coexisting with sapphirine and sillimanite or with pyrope decreases with increasing pressure and decreasing temperature. Two univariant lines, pyrope = enstatite_ss + sillimanite + sapphirine_ss and enstatite_ss + sillimanite =sapphirine_ss + quartz were confirmed. The invariant point involving these phases is metastable. The alumina content of orthopyroxene can not be used either as a pressure indicator or as a temperature indicator without taking the mineral assemblage into account.     

The partitioning of copper between silicate melts and two-phase aqueous fluids: An experimental investigation at 1 kbar, 800° C and 0.5 kbar, 850° C

 Experiments were performed in the three phase system high-silica rhyolite melt+low-salinity aqueous vapor+hydrosaline brine, to investigate the partitioning equilibria for copper in magmatic-hydrothermal systems at 800° C and 1 kbar, and 850° C and 0.5 kbar. D^aqm/mlt _Cu and apparent equilibrium constants, K^aqm/mlt _Cu,Na, between the aqueous mixture (aqm=quenched vapor+brine) and the silicate melt (mlt) are calculated. D^aqm/mlt _Cu increases with increasing aqueous chloride concentration and is a function of pressure. K^aqm/mlt _Cu,Na=215(±73) at 1 kbar and 800° C and K^aqm/mlt _Cu,Na=11(±6) at 0.5 kbar and 850°C. Decreasing pressure from 1 to 0.5 kbar lowers K^aqm/mlt _Cu,Na by a factor of approximately 20. Data revealed no difference in K^aqm/mlt _Cu,Na or D^aqm/mlt _Cu as a function of the melt aluminium saturation index. Within the 2-phase field the K^aqm/mlt _Cu,Na show no variation with total aqueous chloride, indicating that copper-sodium exchange between the vapor, brine and silicate melt is independent of the mass proportion of vapor and brine. Model copper-sodium apparent equilibrium constants for the hydrosaline brine and the silicate melt revealed a negative dependence on pressure. Model apparent equilibrium constants for copper-sodium exchange between the brine and vapor were close to unity at 1 kbar and 800° C. Received: 27 June 1994/Accepted: 30 March 1995     

The effect of crystal field stabilization on the olivine→spinel transition in the system Mg2SiO4 - Fe2SiO4

Crystal field stabilization (CFS) plays a significant role in determining equilibrium phase boundaries in olivine→spinel transformations involving transition-metal cations, including Fe²⁺ which is a major constituent of the upper mantle. Previous calculations for Fe₂SiO₄ ignored pressure and temperature dependencies of crystal field stabilization enthalpies (CFSE) and the electronic configurational entropy (S _CFS). We have calculated free energy changes (ΔG _CFS) due to differences of crystal field splittings between Fe₂SiO₄ spinel and fayalite from: ΔG _CFS=?ΔCFSE?TΔS _CFS, as functions of P and T, for different energy splittings of t _2g orbital levels of Fe²⁺ in spinel. The results indicate that ΔG _CFS is always negative, suggesting that CFS always promotes the olivine→spinel transition in Fe₂SiO₄, and expands the stability field of spinel at the expense of olivine. Because of crystal field effects, transition pressures for olivine→spinel transformations in compositions (Mg_1?x Fe _x )₂SiO₄ are lowered by approximately 50x kbar, which is equivalent to having raised the olivine→spinel boundary in the upper mantle by about 15 km.     

Forsterite-diopside-spinel-liquid equilibria in the system CaO−MgO−Al2O3−SiO2 at 20 kbar and petrological applications

Liquidus phase relationships in the CaAlAl–SiO₆–Mg₂SiO₄–CaMgSi₂O₆–CaAlSi₂O₈ portion of the simplified basalt tetrahedron in the CaO–MgO–SiO₂–Al₂O₃ system have been experimentally determined at 20 kbar pressure. The fo+di _ss+sp+li univariant curve, that pierces the fo-di-an join and meets the fo+di _ss+ en_ss+sp+li invariant point in the basalt tetrahedron, extends all the way to and pierces the di-fo-CaTs join, the limit of the simplified basalt tetrahedron toward the silica undersaturated portion.An algebraic method, relying on compositions of two successive liquids on a univariant curve and those of the crystalline phases in equilibrium with the respective liquids, is developed to identify the type of reaction that takes place along an isobarically univariant curve and to detect whether there is a temperature maximum on that curve. Use of this method for the di _ss+fo+sp+li univariant equilibria shows that a temperature maximum exists on this curve at the composition Fo₁₁Di₅₆An₃CaTs₃₀, very close to and slighthly to the SiO₂-rich side of the fo-di-CaTs join. The temperature along the univariant curve continuously decreases from the temperature maximum (1500°C) to the invariant point (1475°C) where the univariant curve is terminated by the appearance of e _ss as a member of the equilibrium assemblage. Along this part of the curve, a reaction relationship occurs according to the equation fo+li=di _ss+ sp. Compositions of di _ss in equilibrium with the liquids from the temperature maximum to the fo+di _ss+en_ss+ sp+li invariant point range from Di₆₆En₉CaTs₂₅ to Di₃₆En₄₀CaTs₂₄. Because of the reaction relationship of forsterite with liquid, fractional crystallization of a model alkalic basaltic liquid would cause liquids to move off the fo-di _ss-sp-li univariant curve onto the sp-di _ss divariant surface. Crystallization of di _ss and sp would then lead to silica enrichment of residual liquids. Thus at pressures below 30 kbar, at which pressure the Al₂O₃–CaSiO₃–MgSiO₃ plane becomes a new thermal divide cutting through both the tholeiitic and alkalic volumes, alkalic liquids will fractionate toward tholeiitic compositions without crossing a thermal divide. This relationship would be expected to persist at pressures down to about 4 kbar where a maximum on the fo-di-an-li boundary line causes a thermal divide near the fo-di-an plane. Strongly SiO₂-undersaturated liquids (e.g. nephelinites, basanites), on the other hand, cannot be derived from SiO₂-undersaturated basalts (e.g. alkali olivine basalt) by fractional crystallization at 20 kbar. We also found that no gt primary phase volume cuts the wo-en-Al₂O₃ join at 20 kbar pressure. The wehrlite, the olivine clinopyroxenite, and the Al-augite group lherzolite xenoliths, containing highly aluminous clinopyroxenes (enriched in Ca-Tschermak), can be interpreted as crystal cumulates from alkalic basalts in the light of this experimental study. This is consistent with the mode of origin of these xenoliths proposed from petrographic, mineralogic, and geochemical studies.Abbreviations and notations di CaMgSi₂O₆ - fo Mg₂SiO₄ - an CaAl₂Si₂O₈ - CaTs CaAlAlSiO₆ - sp MgAl₂O₄ - en MgSiO₃ - wo CaSiO₃ - gt Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂–Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ - qz SiO₂ - li Liquid - gl glass - ss Solid Solution - A An mxn matrix - X A column vector - kbar kilobar     

Thermochemistry of phases in the system MgGa2O4-Mg2GeO4

The enthalpies of solution in molten 2PbO · B₂O₃ of phases synthesized at one atmosphere in the system MgGa₂O₄-Mg₂GeO₄ have been measured. A spinel solid solution, which is stable at 1400 °C from the MgGa₂O₄ end-member to 27 mole percent Mg₂GeO₄, shows endothermic heats of mixing of up to 10 kJ/mole at the solubility limit. The spinelloid phase, Mg₃Ga₂GeO₈, is energetically less stable than a mixture of terminal spinel solid solutions (0.73 MgGa₂O₄·0.27 Mg₂GeO₄(sp)+Mg₂GeO₄(sp)), by 3.63±3.64 kJ/mole. This indicates that the spinelloid is a high-entropy phase.The volume of the spinel solid solution, MgGa₂O₄-Mg₂GeO₄, shows a positive deviation from Vegard's Law. Modeling of the cation distribution in the solid solution indicates that this V is due to a change in the spinel type from inverse towards normal as the Mg₂GeO₄ content increases.