Phase relations between Ca3Fe 2 3 +Si3O12-Fe 3 2 +Fe 2 3 +Si3O12 garnet and CaFeSi2O6-Fe2Si2O6 pyroxene solid solutions

Editorial responsibility: J. Hoefs     

Elasticity of tetragonal end-member majorite and solid solutions in the system Mg4Si4O12-Mg3Al2Si3O12

 The adiabatic elastic moduli of polycrystalline En₅₀Py₅₀ and En₈₀Py₂₀ majorite-garnet solid solutions (where En=4MgSiO₃, Py=Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂) and the end-member En₁₀₀ tetragonal majorite were determined at ambient conditions using Brillouin spectroscopy. The adiabatic bulk modulus, K, and shear modulus, μ, of En₅₀Py₅₀ were found to be K=173.1 (20) and μ=92.3 (10) GPa, and are indistinguishable from those of the end-member pyrope, Py₁₀₀. The moduli of the more majorite-rich samples are significantly lower and are virtually identical to each other (K=162.6(11) and μ=85.7(7) for En₈₀Py₂₀; K=166(5) and μ=88(2) for En₁₀₀). In combination with previously reported moduli for this system, we conclude that both K and μ are constant over the compositional range from Py₁₀₀ to a majorite content of about 70–80%, whereupon the moduli decrease substantially. For compositions ranging from En₈₀Py₂₀ to the end-member majorite, the moduli are also approximately independent of composition, but at a lower value. An alternative model with a continuous decrease in moduli with increasing majorite content cannot be excluded, within the uncertainties of existing measurements. The contrast in moduli between aluminous pyrope garnet and Al-free majorite are small compared with the modulus changes accompanying the pyroxene – majorite phase transformation. Received August 16, 1995 /Revised, accepted January 12, 1996     

Single crystal Raman spectrum of uvarovite, Ca3Cr2Si3O12

Single-crystal Raman spectra of synthetic end-member uvarovite (Ca₃Cr₂Si₃O₁₂) and of a binary solution (59% uvarovite, 41% andradite) have been measured using single crystal techniques. For each of these garnets, 22 and 21 of the 25 Raman modes were located, respectively. The spectra for uvarovite garnets closely resemble those of the other calcic garnets, grossular, and andradite. The modes for uvarovites do not fit into the same trends as established by the other five anhydrous end-member garnets: the high energy “internal” Si–O modes do not depend on lattice constant in uvarovite. They exceed frequencies for both andradite and grossular. This is likely due to the large crystal field stabilization energy of trivalent chromium. The low energy and midrange modes are at similar frequencies to the other calcic garnets.     

Stability of the assemblage orthopyroxene-sillimanite-quartz in the system MgO-FeO-Fe2O3-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O

The stability of coexisting orthopyroxene, sillimanite and quartz and the composition of orthopyroxene in this assemblage has been determined in the system MgO-FeO-Fe₂O₃-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O as a function of pressure, mainly at 1,000° C, and at oxygen fugacities defined mostly by the hematite-magnetite buffer. The upper stability of the assemblage is terminated at 17 kbars, 1,000° C, by the reaction opx+Al-silicate gar+qz, proceeding toward lower pressures with increasing Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio in the system. The lower stability is controlled by the reaction opx+sill+qz cord, which occurs at 11 kbars in the iron-free system but is lowered to 9 kbars with increasing Fe/(Fe+Mg). Spinel solid solutions are stabilized, besides quartz, up to 14 kbars in favour of garnet in the iron-rich part of the system (Fe/(Fe+Mg)0.30). Ferric-ferrous ratios in orthopyroxene are increasing with increasing ferro-magnesian ratio. At least part of the generally observed increase in Al content with Fe²⁺ in orthopyroxene is not due to an increased solubility of the MgAlAlSiO₆ component but rather of a MgFe³⁺AlSiO₆ component. The data permit an estimate of oxygen fugacity from the composition of orthopyroxene in coexistence with sillimanite and quartz.     

The high-pressure and temperature equation of state of a majorite solid solution in the system of Mg4Si4O12-Mg3Al2Si3O12

The high-pressure and temperature equation of state of majorite solid solution, Mj_0.8Py_0.2, was determined up to 23 GPa and 773 K with energy-dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction at high pressure and high temperature using the single- and double-stage configurations of the multianvil apparatuses, MAX80 and 90. The X-ray diffraction data of the majorite sample were analyzed using the WPPD (whole-powder-pattern decomposition) method to obtain the lattice parameters. A least-squares fitting using the third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state yields the isothermal bulk modulus, K _T0  = 156 GPa, its pressure derivative, K′ = 4.4(±0.3), and temperature derivative (∂K _T /∂T) _P = −1.9(±0.3)× 10⁻² GPa/K, assuming that the thermal expansion coefficient is similar to that of pyrope-almandine solid solution. Received: 5 October 1998 / Revised, accepted: 24 June 1999     

Cation disorder in garnets along the Mg3Al2Si3O12-Mg4Si4O12 join: an infrared,Raman and NMR study

We have obtained infrared and Raman spectra for garnets synthesized at high (static) pressures and temperatures along the join Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ (pyrope) — Mg₄Si₄O₁₂ (magnesium majorite). The vibrational spectra of Mg-majorite show a large number of additional weak peaks compared with the spectra of cubic pyrope garnet, consistent with tetragonal symmetry for the MgSiO₃ garnet phase. The Raman bands for this phase show no evidence for line broadening, suggesting that Mg and Si are ordered on octahedral sites in the garnet. The bands for the intermediate garnet compositions are significantly broadened compared with the end-members pyrope and Mg-majorite, indicating cation disorder in the intermediate phases. Solid state ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy for pyrope and two intermediate compositions show that Al is present only on octahedral sites, so the cation disorder is most likely confined to Mg-Al-Si mixing on the octahedral sites. We have also obtained a Raman spectrum for a natural, shock-produced (Fe,Mg) majorite garnet. The sharp Raman peaks suggest little or no cation disorder in this sample.     

Synthesis and crystal chemistry of kornerupine in the system MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-B2O3-H2O

Boron-bearing kornerupine was synthesized in the simplest possible model system at fluid pressures and temperatures both within and outside the stability field of boron-free kornerupine. Best conditions for synthesis of single-phase products are 7 kb and 830 °C. Microprobe and wet chemical analyses as well as X-ray studies indicate compositional variations of kornerupines regarding all five constituent components: Increasing B-contents (from 0.37 to 3.32 wt% B₂O₃) are correlated with decreasing OH^? values largely according to the Eq. B³⁺?3 H⁺; the ratio MgO∶Al₂O₃∶SiO₂ varies from 4∶3∶4 in the direction towards 1∶1∶1. Thus kornerupine exhibits an at least ternary range of solid solution in the system studied. Crystallochemically speaking it is significant that, although the Mg∶Al∶Si ratio of kornerupine may remain constant with increasing boron contents, the total number of cations per formula unit increases beyond the ideal number of 14.0 as given by Moore and Bennett (1968). Considering the presence of an additional structural site at (000) it is suggested that the introduction of boron initiates a sequence of substitutions such as $$B^{[4]} \to Si^{[4] } \to A1^{[4]} \to Mg^{[6]} \to \square$$ . The filling of this site, empty in boron-free kornerupine, by Mg is connected with a loss of hydrogen located near this site. Petrologically speaking an exchange reaction relation exists between kornerupine and its coexisting fluid according to the equation Boron-free kornerupine+B₂O₃=boron-kornerupine+H₂O. The molar fractions $$X_{B_2 O_3 } = B_2 O_3 /\left( {B_2 O_3 + H_2 O} \right)$$ of kornerupines exceed those of their coexisting fluids by about one order of magnitude. Fluids with relatively low X_{B 2 O 3} lead to the coexistence of kornerupine with boron-free minerals such as enstatite and sapphirine, fluids with relatively high X_{B 2 O 3} produce the boron-minerals grandidierite, sinhalite, and tourmaline (in the present system without Na!) in addition to kornerupine.     

Synthesis of Ca-tourmaline in the system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-B2O3-H2O-HCl

Summary. ?Ca-tourmaline has been synthesized hydrothermally in the presence of Ca(OH)₂ and CaCl₂-bearing solutions of different concentration at T = 300–700 °C at a constant fluid pressure of 200 MPa in the system CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-B₂O₃-H₂O-HCl. Synthesis of tourmaline was possible at 400 °C, but only above 500 °C considerable amounts of tourmaline formed. Electron microprobe analysis and X-ray powder data indicate that the synthetic tourmalines are essentially solid solutions between oxy-uvite, CaMg₃- Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃O, and oxy-Mg-foitite, □(MgAl₂)Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃O. The amount of Ca ranges from 0.36 to 0.88 Ca pfu and increases with synthesis temperature as well as with bulk Ca-concentration in the starting mixture. No hydroxy-uvite, CaMg₃(MgAl₅)(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH), could be synthesized. All tourmalines have < 3 Mg and > 6 Al pfu. The Al/(Al + Mg)-ratio decreases from 0.80 to 0.70 with increasing Ca content. Al is coupled with Mg and Ca via the substitutions Al₂□Mg₋₂Ca₋₁ and AlMg₋₁H₋₁. No single phase tourmaline could be synthesized. Anorthite ( + quartz in most runs) has been found coexisting with tourmaline. Other phases are chlorite, tremolite, enstatite or cordierite. Between solid and fluid, Ca is strongly fractionated into tourmaline ( + anorthite). The concentration ratio D = Ca(fluid)/Ca(tur) increases from 0.20 at 500 °C up to 0.31 at 700 °C. For the assemblage turmaline + anorthite + quartz + chlorite or tremolite or cordierite, the relationship between Ca content in tourmaline and in fluid with temperature can be described by the equation (whereby T = temperature in °C, Ca(tur) = amount of Ca on the X-site in tourmaline, Ca( fluid) = concentration of Ca²⁺ in the fluid in mol/l). The investigations may serve as a first guideline to evaluate the possibility to use tourmaline as an indicator for the fluid composition.

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Zusammenfassung. ?Synthese von Ca-Turmelin im System CaO-MgO-Al ₂ O ₃ -SiO ₂ -B ₂ O ₃ -H ₂ O-HCl Im System CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-B₂O₃-H₂O-HCl wurde Ca-Turmalin hydrothermal aus Ca(OH)₂ and CaCl₂-haltigen L?sungen bei T = 300–700 °C und einem konstanten Fluiddruck von 200 MPa synthetisiert. Die Synthese von Turmalin war m?glich ab 400 °C, aber nur oberhalb von 500 °C bildeten sich deutliche Mengen an Turmalin. Elektronenstrahl-Mikrosondenanalysen und R?ntgenpulveraufnahmen zeigen, da? Mischkristalle der Reihe Oxy-Uvit, CaMg₃Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃O, und Oxy-Mg-Foitit, □(MgAl₂)Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃O gebildet wurden. Der Anteil an Ca variiert zwischen 0.36 und 0.88 Ca pfu und nimmt mit zunehmender Synthesetemperatur und zunehmender Ca-Konzentration im System zu. Hydroxy-Uvit, CaMg₃(MgAl₅) (Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH), konnte nicht synthetisiert werden. Alle Turmaline haben < 3 Mg und > 6 Al pfu. Dabei nimmt das Al/(Al + Mg)- Verh?ltnis mit zunehmendem Ca-Gehalt von 0.80 auf 0.70 ab. Al ist gekoppelt mit Mg und Ca über die Substitutionen Al₂□Mg₋₂Ca₋₁ und AlMg₋₁H₋₁. Einphasiger Turmalin konnte nicht synthetisiert werden. Anorthit (+ Quarz in den meisten F?llen) koexistiert mit Turmalin. Andere Phasen sind Chlorit, Tremolit, Enstatit oder Cordierit. Ca zeigt eine deutliche Fraktionierung in den Festk?rpern Turmalin (+ Anorthit). Das Konzentrationsverh?ltnis D = Ca(fluid)/Ca(tur) nimmt von 0.20 bei 500 °C auf 0.31 bei 700 °C zu. Für die Paragenese Turmalin + Anorthit + Quarz mit Chlorit oder Tremolit oder Cordierit gilt folgende Beziehung zwischen Ca-Gehalt in Turmalin und Fluid und der Temperatur: (wobei T = Temperatur in °C, Ca(tur) = Anteil an Ca auf der X-Position in Turmalin, Ca(fluid) = Konzentration von Ca²⁺ im Fluid in mol/l). Die Untersuchungen dienen zur ersten Absch?tzung, ob Turmalin als Fluidindikator petrologisch nutzbar ist.

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Received July 24, 1998;/revised version accepted October 21, 1999     

Surinamite analogs in the MgO-Ga2O3-GeO2 and MgO-Al2O3-GeO2 systems

New germanate analogs of the mineral surinamite, Mg₃Al₄BeSi₃O₁₆, have been synthesized with composition Mg₄A₄Ge₃O₁₆ (A=Al, Ga) and have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The Al surinamite phase crystallizes with a primitive unit-cell (P2/n, a=10.153(1), b=11.708(2), c=9.920(1) Å, β=110.18 (2)° and Z=4) similar to that of the silicate mineral. The Ga surinamite-like phase crystallizes with a larger unit-cell (C2/c, a=10.308(2), b=23.690(5), c=10.057(l) Å, β=110.23 (2)° and Z=8). High-resolution electron microscopy has shown the common formation of intergrowths between the surinamite and sapphirine structures, illustrating the polysomatic structural relationship between them. Observations of disordered microstructures in the Al surinamite suggest the occurrence of a P2/n?C2/c transformation.     

Elasticity of the pyrope (Mg3Al2Si3O12)-majorite (MgSiO3) garnets solid solution

Dense isotropic polycrystalline specimens of majorite-rich garnets (Py₁₀₀, Py₆₂Mj₃₈, Py₅₀Mj₅₀, Py₂₁Mj₇₉ and Mj₁₀₀) along the pyrope (Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ = Py₁₀₀)-majorite (MgSiO₃ = Mj₁₀₀) join were fabricated in a 2000-ton uniaxial split-sphere anvil apparatus (USSA-2000) at pressures from 10 to 18.5 GPa and temperatures from 1200 to 1850 °C, within their stability fields in runs of 2–4-h duration, using hot-pressing techniques developed by Gwanmesia et al. (1993). These specimens are single-phased, fine-grained (≤5 mm), free of microcracks, and have bulk densities greater than 99% of the corresponding single-crystal X-ray density. Elastic compressional (P) and shear (S) wave velocities were determined at room pressure and temperature for these polycrystalline garnet specimens by phase comparison ultrasonic interferometry. For Mj₁₀₀, the P and S wave velocities are within 1% of the Hashin-Shtrikman averages calculated from the single crystal elastic moduli measured by Brillouin spectroscopy. Both the elastic bulk modulus (K) and the shear modulus (G) decrease continuously with increasing majorite content from pyrope garnet (Py₁₀₀) to pure majorite garnet (Mj₁₀₀). The compositional dependence of K and G are given by K = 172.3 (40) − 0.085X, and G = 91.6 (10) − 0.038X, where X = mol% majorite), respectively, indicating that substitution of Si for Mg and Al decreases both K and G by about 5% along the solid solution series. Received: 25 March 1999 / Accepted: 12 July 1999     

Compressibility of P2O5-Al2O3-Na2SiO3 melts

The effect of composition and temperature on the relaxed adiabatic bulk modulus of melts in the P₂O₅-Al₂O ₃-Na₂SiO₃ system have been investigated in the temperature range of 1140 to 1450 °C using ultrasonic interferometric methods at frequencies of 3, 5 and 7 MHz. The density of these melts was determined using Pt-double-bob Archimedean densitometry techiques. P₂O₅ is known to dramatically affect the structure and the chemical and physical properties of granitic and pegmatitic melts as a function of the peralkalinity of the melt. The physical results of the structural changes occurring in Na₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ melt upon the addition of P₂O₅ are observed by variations in the properties such as density and compressibility. For the present peralkaline melts, the bulk modulus and density decrease with addition of 15 mol% P₂O₅, and increase with the addition of 15 mol% Al₂O₃. The addition of P₂O₅ to the present melts results in a larger increase in melt compressibility than that observed with increasing polymerization between Na₂SiO₃ and Na₂Si₂O₅ melts. This would suggest that not only is the polymerization of the melt increasing with the addition of P₂O₅ (Mysen et al. 1981; Nelson and Tallant 1984; Gan and Hess 1992), but that the tetrahedrally co-ordinated phosphorus complexes are influencing the bond lengths and energies within the melt structure; resulting in the structure becoming more compressible than expected, although incompressible (Vaughan and Weidner 1987) tetrahedral P₂O₅ polyhedra (Mysen et al. 1981; Gan and Hess 1992; Toplis et al. 1994) are being added to the melt structure.     

Synthetic dumortierite: its PTX-dependent compositional variations in the system Al2O3-B2O3-SiO2-H2O

Dumortierite, generally simplified as Al₇BSi₃O₁₈, was synthesized in the pure system Al₂O₃–B₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O (ABSH) using gels with variable Al/Si ratios mixed with H₃BO₃ and H₂O in known proportions as starting materials. Synthesis conditions ranged from 3 to 5 and 15 to 20 kbar fluid pressure at 650° to 880°C. On the basis of analyses, synthetic dumortierite shows relatively narrow homogeneity ranges with regard to Al/Si which, however, vary as a function of pressure: at low pressures (3–5 kbar) Al/Si is 2.77–2.94 versus 2.33–2.55 at high pressures (15–20 kbar). Outside of these homogeneity limits, dumortierite was found to coexist with quartz or corundum, depending on the starting composition. Whereas synthetic dumortierite invaribly contains 1.0 boron atom per formula unit (p.f.u.) based on 18 oxygens, the water contents vary drastically as a function of pressure and temperature (1.32–2.30 wt.% H₂O or 0.85–1.47 H p.f.u.). H₂O is an essential component in dumortierite. Structural formulae based on complete chemical analyses of the dumortierites synthesized reveal that there is invariably an Si-deficiency against the ideal number of 3.0 p.f.u. In the calculation procedure used here, this deficiency is balanced by assuming tetrahedral Al. The remaining Al, taken to occupy the octahedral sites, is always below the ideal number of 7.0 p.f.u. Charge-balancing the structure with the hydrogen found analytically leads to two different mechanisms of H incorporation: (1) 3H⁺ + octahedral vacancy for Al^[6]; (2) H⁺ + tetrahedral Al for Si^[4]. Dumortierite synthesized at high fluid pressure contains little Al^[4] and, thus, little H⁺ of type 2; its hydrogen is predominantly present as type 1. Conversely, dumortierite formed at low fluid pressures is high in Al^[4] and hydrogen type 2. The amounts of hydrogen type 1 in low-pressure dumortierites decrease with rising temperatures of synthesis. Typical structural formulae are: (Al_6.670.33)[Al_0.49Si_2.51–O_13.53(OH)_1.47](BO₃) for a low-pressure product, and (Al_6.680.32)[Al_0.09Si_2.91O_13.94(OH)_1.06](BO₃) for a high-pressure product. Independently of the synthesis conditions, dumortierite was found always to be orthorhombic, with b₀/a₀ deviating slightly, but significantly from the valid for hexagonal lattice geometry. As a function of increasing Al/Si in the synthetic crystals, their a₀, c₀, and V₀ rise, whereas b₀ decreases. Thus b₀/a₀ decreases most sensitively with rising Al/Si and also with growing Al^[4]. More experimentation is required before the compositional variations of dumortierite found here can be applied successfully to geothermobarometry of natural rocks.     

Synthesis and Stability Relations of Epidote, Ca2Al2FeSi3O12 (OH)

Hydrothermal investigation of the bulk composition 2CaO·Al₂O₃·l/2Fe₂O₂·3SiO₂+excessH₂O (Ps 33 +excess H₂O) has been conducted using conventionalapparatus and solid oxygen buffer techniques. Coarse-grainedepidotes (over 150 microns in some cases) were readily synthesizedfrom oxide mixtures with a 98 per cent yield as well as fromtheir high temperature equivalents at 600–700 °C and5 kb P_fluid and over a range of oxygen fugacities. Electronmicroprobe analyses show that maximum Fe⁺³ content of syntheticepidotes varies as a function of fo₂. Epidote is most iron-rich(Ps 33 ± 2) at high (HM and CCO) oxygen buffers and becomesprogressively more aluminous (Ps 25 ± 3) with decreasingfo₂ values and temperatures. Such variation is consistent withthe change of refractive indices and cell dimensions. The meanrefractive indices and cell dimensions for synthetic epidote(Ps 33) are N = 1.745 ± 0.005, N = l.786±0.005,a = 8.920±0.005 Å, b = 5.645±0.004 Å,c = 10.190 ű0.006 Å, and ß = 115°31'±4' and for epidote (Ps 25) are N = 1.735±0.005,N = 1.775±0.005, a = 8.891±0.005 Å, b =5.625±0.004 Å, c = 10.177±0.006 Å,and ß = 115° 30'±3'. Mössbauer spectraindicate synthetic epidotes are relatively disordered. Garnets of intermediate composition in the grossular-andraditeseries were synthesized and the cell dimensions and refractiveindices vary linearly with composition. With successive decreasein fo₂, garnet synthesized on the Ps 33 bulk composition movestoward the grossular end member with simultaneously increasingalmandine component; concomitantly the hercynite component ofthe coexistent magnetite increases. The fo₂-T-P_fluid relations were determined by employing mineralmixtures of synthetic epidote and its high temperature equivalentin subequal proportions. Equilibrium was demonstrated for thereactions (1) epidote (Ps 33) = anorthite+grandite+FeO_x+quartz+ fluid, and (2) epidote (Ps 25) (+quartz) = garnet₃₈+anorthite+magnetitc+fluid.With fo₂ defined by the HM buffer, epidote (Ps 33) is stableup to 748 °C, 5 kb, 678 °C, 3 kb, and 635 °C, 2kb P_fluid. With fo₂ defined by the NNO buffer, the epidote (Ps25) high temperature stability limit is reduced about 100 °Cat 5kb P_fluid. At slightly lower fo₂, than defined by the QFMbuffer, epidote is not stable at any temperatures; the assemblagehedenbergite+anorthite+garnet₃₈+fluid replaces epidote in thepresence of excess quartz. Combined with previously determined equilibria for prehnite,andradite, and hedenbergite, isobaric fo,-T relations were furtherinvestigated by chemographic analysis interrelating the phasesprehnite, epidote, grandite, hedenbergite, wollastonite, anorthite,and magnetite in the system CaO-Fe₂O₃-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂0. Such analysisallowed the construction of a semi-quantitative petrogeneticgrid applicable to natural parageneses in low µCO₂ environments,and the delineation of the low temperature stability limit ofepidote as a function of fo₂. Enlargement of the epidote stabilityrange toward both high and low temperatures with increasingfo₂, is consistent with widespread occurrences of epidote inlow- and mediumgrade metamorphic rocks.     

Monte Carlo simulation of mixing in Ca3Fe2Ge3O12–Ca4Ge4O12 garnets and implications for the thermodynamic stability of pyrope–majorite solid solution

Static lattice energy calculations, based on empirical pair potentials, were performed for a large set of structures differing in the arrangement of octahedral cations within the garnet 2 × 2 × 2 supercell. The compositions of these structures varied between Ca₃Fe₂Ge₃O₁₂ and Ca₄Ge₄O₁₂. The energies were cluster expanded using pair and quaternary terms. The derived ordering constants were used to constrain Monte Carlo simulations of temperature-dependent mixing properties in the ranges of 1,073–3,673 K and 0–10 GPa. The free energies of mixing were calculated using the method of thermodynamic integration. The calculations predict a wide miscibility gap between Fe-rich (cubic) and Fe-pure (tetragonal) garnets consistent with recent experimental observations of Iezzi et al. (Phys Chem Miner 32:197–207, 2005). It is shown that the miscibility gap arises due to a very strong cation ordering at the Fe-pure composition, driven by the charge difference between Ca²⁺ and Ge⁴⁺ cations. The structural and thermodynamic analogies between Ca–Ge and Mg–Si systems suggest that a similar miscibility gap should exist between pyrope and Mg–Si-majorite.     

The calcium oxotellurate(IV) nitrates Ca5Te4O12(NO3)2(H2O)2 and Ca6Te5O15(NO3)2

Single crystals of two novel calcium oxotellurate(IV) nitrates were grown under hydrothermal conditions and were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. Ca $_5$ Te $_4\text {O}_{12}$ (NO $_3$ ) $_2$ (H $_2$ O) $_2$ [ $Cc$ , $Z=4$ , $a=25.258(3)$ Å, $b=5.7289(7)$ Å, $c=17.0066(19)$ Å, $\beta =124.377(2)^{\circ}$ , $R[F^2 > 2\sigma (F^2)]=0.043$ , 4083 $F^2$ data, 281 parameters] can be described as a non-classic order/disorder (OD) structure, which fulfills the basic principle of OD theory, viz. local equivalence of polytypes, but does not strictly follow the vicinity condition (VC) of OD theory. The structure is made up from an alternating stacking of non-polar layers composed of isolated [TeO $_3$ ] units and Ca $^{2+}$ ions and polar layers containing NO $_3^-$ ions and water molecules. The electron lone-pairs of the [TeO $_3$ ] units protrude into the free space of the anion/water layers. The crystal under investigation was a non-classic OD-twin of domains of a maximum degree of order (MDO). At the twin plane a fragment of the second MDO polytype is located. The main building blocks of Ca $_6$ Te $_5\text {O}_{15}$ (NO $_3$ ) $_2$ [ $P2_1/c$ , $Z=4$ , $a=15.494(2)$ Å, $b=5.6145(7)$ Å, $c=39.338(4)$ Å, $\beta =142.480(5)^{\circ}$ , $R[F^2 > 2\sigma (F^2)]=0.043$ , 3026 $F^2$ data, 307 parameters] are isolated [TeO $_3$ ] units and Ca $^{2+}$ ions which are connected to a three-dimensional framework perforated by channels in which the N atoms of the nitrate anions are located and the electron lone-pairs of the [TeO $_3$ ] units protrude. The structure can topologically be derived from the structure of Ca $_5$ Te $_4\text {O}_{12}$ (NO $_3$ ) $_2$ (H $_2$ O) $_2$ by removing the water molecules and connecting the CaTeO $_3$ layers with additional [TeO $_3$ ] units and Ca $^{2+}$ ions.     

The P-T-fO 2 stability of deerite,Fe 12 2+ Fe 6 3+ [Si12O40](OH)10

New equilibrium experiments have been performed in the 20–27 kbar range to determine the upper thermal stability limit of endmember deerite, Fe ₁₂ ²⁺ Fe ₆ ³⁺ [Si₁₂O₄₀](OH)₁₀. In this pressure range, the maximum thermal stability limit is represented by the oxygen-conserving reaction: deerite(De)=9 ferrosilite(Fs)+3 magnetite(Mag)+3 quartz(Qtz)+5 H₂O(W) (1). Under the oxygen fugacities of the Ni-NiO buffer the breakdown-reduction reaction: De=12 Fs+2 Mag+5 W+1/2 O₂ (10) takes place at lower temperatures (e.g. T=63° at 27 kbar). The experimental brackets can be fitted using thermodynamic data for ferrosilite, magnetite and quartz from Berman (1988) and the following 1 bar, 298 K data for deerite (per gfw): V^o=55.74 J.bar^-1, S^o=1670 J.K^-1, H _f ^o =-18334 kJ, =2.5x10^-5K^-1, =-0.18x10^-5 bar^-1. Using these data in conjunction with literature data on coesite, grunerite, minnesotaite, and greenalite, the P-T stability field of endmember deerite has been calculated for P _s=P _{H 2}O. This field is limited by 6 univariant oxygenconserving dehydration curves, from which three have positive dP/dT slopes, the other three negative slopes. The lower pressure end of the stability field of endmember deerite is thus located at an invariant point at 250±70°C and 10+-1.5 kbar. Deerite rich in the endmember can thus appear only in environments with geothermal gradients lower than 10°C/km and at pressures higher than about 10 kbar, which is in agreement with 4 out of 5 independent P-T estimates for known occurrences. The presence of such deerite places good constraints on minimum pressure and maximum temperature conditions. From log f _{O 2}-T diagrams constructed with the same data base at different pressures, it appears that endmember deerite is, at temperatures near those of its upper stability limit, stable only over a narrow range of oxygen fugacities within the magnetite field. With decreasing temperatures, deerite becomes stable towards slightly higher oxygen fugacities but reaches the hematite field only at temperatures more than 200°C lower than the upper stability limit. This practically precludes the coexistence deerite-hematite with near-endmember deerite in natural environments.     

Synthesis and stability relations of wairakite,CaAl2 Si4 O12·2H2O

Hydrothermal investigation of the bulk composition CaO·Al₂O₃·4SiO₂ + excess H₂O has been conducted using conventional techniques over the temperature range 200–500° C and 500–5,000 bars P _fluid. The fully ordered wairakite was synthesized unequivocally in the laboratory, probably for the first time.The gradual, sluggish and continuous transformation from disordered to ordered wairakite evidently accounts for failure by previous investigators to synthesize ordered wairakite in runs of week-long duration. The dehydration of metastable disordered wairakite to metastable hexagonal anorthite, quartz and H₂O has been determined; this reaction takes place at temperatures exceeding 400° C, even at fluid pressures of 500 bars or less. The upper P _fluid-T boundary of the disordered phase is equivalent to the maximum temperature curve of synthetic wairakite presented by previous investigators. The hydrothermal breakdown of natural wairakite above its stability limit appears to be a very slow process.The equilibrium dehydration of wairakite to anorthite, quartz and H₂O occurs at 330±5° C at 500 bars, 348±5° C at 1,000 bars, 372±5° C at 2,000 bars and 385±5° C at 3,000 bars. Where fluid pressure equals total pressure, the thermal stability range of wairakite is about 100° C wide. At lower temperatures wairakite reacts with H₂O to form laumontite. Reconnaissance experiments dealing with the effect of CO₂ on stabilities of calcium zeolites suggest that wairakite or laumontite may be replaced by the assemblage calcite + montmorillonite in the presence of a CO₂-bearing fluid phase.The determined P _fluid -T field of wairakite is compatible with field observations in some metamorphic terrains where it is related to the shallow emplacement of granitic magma and with direct pressure-temperature measurements in certain active geothermal areas. Under inferred conditions of higher _CO2/_H2O ratios, essentially unmetamorphosed rocks grade directly into those characteristic of the greenschist facies; moderately high values of _CO2 in carbonate-bearing rocks result in the downgrade extension of the greenschist facies at the expense of zeolite-bearing assemblages.     

The cubic-tetragonal phase transition in the system majorite (Mg4Si4O12) – pyrope (Mg3Al2Si3O12), and garnet symmetry in the Earth's transition zone

 Garnets along the join Mg₄Si₄O₁₂ (majorite end member) – Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂ (pyrope) synthesized at 2000 °C, 19 GPa are, after quench, tetragonal in the compositional range up to 20 mol% pyrope, but cubic at higher Al contents. Lattice constants a _tet and a _tet in the tetragonal compositional range converge with increasing pyrope contents towards the lattice constant of the cubic garnets. The elastic strain and the intensity of the (222) reflection as a function of composition indicate a second-order phase transition near 20 mol% pyrope. From the wedge-like shape of pseudomerohedral twins and their interaction near 90° twin-boundary corners, as well as from the absence of growth-induced dislocations, it is concluded that the Al-poor garnets are also cubic at synthesis conditions but invert by (Mg,Si) ordering on the octahedral sites into tetragonal phases of space group I4₁/a upon quench. This implies that the cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition in Mg₄Si₄O₁₂ garnet occurs below 2000 °C at 19 GPa and at even lower temperatures in more aluminous compositions. A composition-dependent Landau model is consistent with a direct transformation from Ia3d to I4₁/a. Comparison of the T-X stability field of majorite-pyrope garnets with the chemistry of majorite-rich garnets expected to occur in the Earth's transition zone shows that the latter will be cubic under all conditions. Softening of elastic constants, which commonly accompanies ferroelastic phase transitions, may affect the seismic velocities of garnets in the deeper transition zone where majorite contents are highest. Received July 5, 1996 / Revised, accepted September 24, 1996     

Stability of Yoderite in the Absence and in the Presence of Quartz: an Experimental Study in the System MgO-Al2O3-Fe2O3-SiO2-H2O

The water-pressure temperature stability field of yoderite,ideally Mg₂Al_5.6Fe^{3 +} _0.4Si₄O₁₈(OH)₂, was determined at highoxygen fugacities by high-pressure bracketing runs on eightpossible breakdown reactions involving the phases chlorite,kyanite, talc, staurolite, pyrope, enstatite, boron-free kornerupine,cordierite, quartz, and invariably an excess of hematite. Yoderitewas found to be stable over the surprisingly large PT rangefrom 6 to 25 kbar water pressure and 590 to 795 C. It is thusa high-pressure mineral covering the upper amphibolite and portionsof the eclogite facies. In the presence of quartz its upperpressure stability is reduced to some 15 kbar, and its uppertemperature stability to 715 C. Two of the yoderite-producingreactions are anomalous as they show dehydration in the directiontowards lower temperatures. Importantly, this is also true forthe reaction kyanite + talc + hematite+H₂O=yoderite+quartz whichis responsible for the only yoderite occurrence in nature atMautia Hill, Tanzania. Preliminary thermodynamic calculationsindicate that—owing to this unusual dehydration behavior—thestability field for the assemblage yoderite+quartz disappearsfor water activities lower than 0.5. The rarity of yoderitein natural rocks, which is in contrast to its large PT stabilityfield, must be explained on chemical rather than on physicalgrounds. Yoderite can only occur in whiteschist-type bulk compositionsrich in MgO, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, and containing some iron, but poorin alkalis and CaO. Oxygen fugacities must be unusually highto keep Fe trivalent, and—at least for rocks with excessquartz—the water activity must be high as well. In anenvironment of this kind, yoderite formation in the Mautia Hillwhiteschist may have occurred even at constant total pressureand temperature simply by an influx of hydrous fluid duringthe late stages of metamorphism under amphibolite facies conditions.