Ephesite,Na(LiAl2) [Al2Si2O10] (OH)2: I. thermal stability and standard state thermodynamic properties

Ephesite, Na(LiAl₂) [Al₂Si₂O₁₀] (OH)₂, has been synthesized for the first time by hydrothermal treatment of a gel of requisite composition at 300≦T(° C)≦700 and \(P_{H_2 O}\) upto 35 kbar. At \(P_{H_2 O}\) between 7 and 35 kbar and above 500° C, only the 2M₁ polytype is obtained. At lower temperatures and pressures, the 1M polytype crystallizes first, which then inverts to the 2M₁ polytype with increasing run duration. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the 1M and 2M₁ poly types can be indexed unambiguously on the basis of the space groups C2 and Cc, respectively. At its upper thermal stability limit, 2M₁ ephesite decomposes according to the reaction (1) $$\begin{gathered} {\text{Na(LiAl}}_{\text{2}} {\text{) [Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{{\text{10}}} {\text{] (OH)}}_{\text{2}} \hfill \\ {\text{ephesite}} \hfill \\ {\text{ = Na[AlSiO}}_{\text{4}} {\text{] + LiAl[SiO}}_{\text{4}} {\text{] + }}\alpha {\text{ - Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}} {\text{ + H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}} \hfill \\ {\text{nepheline }}\alpha {\text{ - eucryptite corundum}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ Five reversal brackets for (1) have been established experimentally in the temperature range 590–750° C, at \(P_{H_2 O}\) between 400 and 2500 bars. The equilibrium constant, K, for this reaction may be expressed as (2) $$log K{\text{ = }}log f_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} O}^* = 7.5217 - 4388/T + 0.0234 (P - 1)T$$ where \(f_{H_2 O}^* = f_{H_2 O} (P,T)/f_{H_2 O}^0\) (1,T), with T given in degrees K, and P in bars. Combining these experimental data with known thermodynamic properties of the decomposition products in (1), the following standard state (1 bar, 298.15 K) thermodynamic data for ephesite were calculated: H _f,298.15 ⁰ =-6237372 J/mol, S _298.15 ⁰ =300.455 J/K·mol, G _298.15 ⁰ =-5851994 J/mol, and V _298.15 ⁰ =13.1468 J/bar·mol.     

Cookeite LiAl4(Si3Al)O10(OH)8: Experimental study and thermodynamical analysis of its compatibility relations in the Li2O−Al2O3−SiO2−H2O system

Three reactions limiting the stability field of the di-trioctahedral chlorite cookeite in the presence of quartz, in the system Li₂O−Al₂O₃−SiO₂−H₂O (LASH) have been reversed in the range 290–480°C, 0.8–14 kbar, using natural material close to the end member composition. Combining our results with known and estimated thermodynamic properties of the other minerals belonging to the LASH system, the enthalpy (-8512200 J/mol) and the entropy (504.8 J/mol^*K) of cookeite are calculated by a feasible solution space approach. The knowledge of these values allowed us to draw the first P−T phase diagram involving both the hydrated Li-aluminosilicates cookeite and bikitaite, which is applicable to a large variety of natural rock systems. The low thermal extent of the stability field of cookeite+quartz (260–480°C) makes cookeite a valuable indicator of low temperature conditions within a wide range of pressure (1–14 kbar).     

Ab initio quantum-mechanical modeling of pyrophyllite [Al2Si4O10(OH)2] and talc [Mg3Si4O10(OH)2] surfaces

Bulk and slab geometry optimizations and calculations of the electrostatic potential at the surface of both pyrophyllite [Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂] and talc [Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂] were performed at Hartree–Fock and DFT level. In both pyrophyllite and talc cases, a modest (001) surface relaxation was observed, and the surface preserves the structural features of the crystal: in the case of pyrophyllite the tetrahedral and octahedral sheets are strongly distorted with respect to the ideal hexagonal symmetry (and basal oxygen are located at different heights along the direction normal to the basal plane), whereas the structure of talc deviates slightly from the ideal hexagonal symmetry (almost co-planar basal oxygen). The calculated distortions are fully consistent with those experimentally observed. Although the potentials at the surface of pyrophyllite and talc are of the same order of magnitude, large topological differences were observed, which could possibly be ascribed to the differences between the surface structures of the two minerals. Negative values of the potential are located above the basal oxygen and at the center of the tetrahedral ring; above silicon the potential is always positive. The value of the potential minimum above the center of the tetrahedral ring of pyrophyllite is ?0.05 V (at 2 Å from the surface), whereas in the case of talc the minimum is ?0.01 V, at 2.7 Å. In the case of pyrophyllite the minimum of potential above the higher basal oxygen is located at 1.1 Å and it has a value of ?1.25 V, whereas above the lower oxygen the value of the potential at the minimum is ?0.2 V, at 1.25 Å; the talc exhibits a minimum of ?0.75 V at 1.2 Å, above the basal oxygen.     

我国发现的一种含锂新矿物——纤钡锂石 BaMg2LiAl3[Si2O6]2（OH）8

纤钡锂石产于湖南临武香花岭地区一水晶矿锂云母石英脉晶洞中,与锂云母、石英等矿物共生。矿物为浅黄白色,丝绢光泽,呈针状、纤维状、放射状或平行束状集合体,纤维长达1厘米。经X射线单晶及粉晶衍射测定:该矿物属斜方晶系,空间群Ccca,晶胞参数:a=13.60(?),b=20.24(?),e=5.16(?)。最强衍射线为:10.12(?)(100) 4.05(?)(78) 3.39(?)(91) 2.605(?)(31)2.390(?)(28)。     

On the entropy of glaucophane Na2Mg3Al2Si8O22(OH)2

The heat capacity of glaucophane from the Sesia-Lanza region of Italy having the approximate composition (Na_1.93Ca_0.05Fe_0.02) (Mg_2.60Fe_0.41) (Al_1.83Fe_0.15Cr_0.01) (Si_7.92Al_0.08)O₂₂(OH)₂ was measured by adiabatic calorimetry between 4.6 and 359.4 K. After correcting the C _p ⁰ data to values for ideal glaucophane, Na₂Mg₃Al₂Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂ the third-law entropy S ₂₉₈ ⁰ -S ₀ ⁰ was calculated to be 541.2±3.0 J·mol^-1·K^-1. Our value for S ₂₉₈ ⁰ -S ₀ ⁰ is 12.0 J·mol^-1·K^-1 (2.2%) smaller than the value of Likhoydov et al. (1982), 553.2±3.0, is within 6.2 J·mol^-1·K^-1 of the value estimated by Holland (1988), and agrees remarkably well with the value calculated by Gillet et al. (1989) from spectroscopic data, 539 J·mol^-1·K^-1.     

Bearthite,Ca2Al(PO4)2OH: stability,thermodynamic properties and phase relations

Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology - The new phosphate bearthite, Ca2Al(PO4)2HO, found in high-pressure metamorphic rocks, has been synthesized from a stoichiometric mixture of γ-Al2O3...     

High-pressure synthesis and properties of magnesiocarpholite,MgAl2[Si2O6] (OH)4

Magnesiocarpholite has been synthesized on its own composition between 15 and 25 kb water pressure and 415°–600° C. Best conditions are 25 kb-550° C, starting from a mixture of oxides and synthetic cordierite. Within the MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O system, possible substitutions appear to be very limited in magnesiocarpholite. Cell-parameters are a=13.706(3), b= 20.075(3), c=5.107(l) Å, space group Ccca. The larger cell, as compared with the most magnesian natural carpholites, is tentatively ascribed to structural disorder. Preliminary stability data confirm the low-temperature character of this mineral which is shown to be a high-pressure equivalent of sudoite+quartz.     

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.     

1Tc-Strontiohilgardit (Ca,Sr)2[B5O8(OH)2Cl] und seine Stellung in der Hilgarditgruppe X2/II[B5O8(OH)2Cl]

Zusammenfassung 1Tc-Strontiohilgardit (Ca, Sr)₂ [B₅O₈(OH)₂,Cl] mit Ca : Sr etwa 1 : 1 ist ein neues Mineral der Hilgarditgruppe. Fundpunkt: Reyersbausen (9° 59,7 E, 51° 36,6 N), Grube Königshall-Hindenburg, Flöz Staßfurt in sylvinitischer Ausbildung.Konstanten : triklin-pedial,a ₀=6,38 Å,b ₀=6,480 Å,c ₀=6,608 Å, =75,4°,=61,2°, =60,5°; tafelige-gestreckte Links- und Re chtskristalle, farblos, wasserunlöslich, piezoelektrisch. Härte 5–7, Dichte 2,99 g cm^–3;n =1,638,n =1,639,n =1,670; 2V =19°.Neue Daten für die Hilgarditgruppe : 2 M (Cc)-Calciumhilgardit (=Hilgardit) =4 Ca₂[B₅O₃(OH)₂Cl], Raumgruppe Cc.3Tc-Calciumhilgardit (=Parahilgardit) = 3 Ca₂[B₅O₃(OH)₂Cl]; trinklin-pedial, ₀=6,31 Å,b =6,484 Å,c ₀=17,50 Å; =84,0°,=79,6°, =60,9°.Die Polymorphiebeziehungen sind geometrisch deutbar durch eine spezielle Art der Polytropie (Stapelung von Links- und Rechtskristallen im Elementarbereich).     

Thermodynamic data of the high-pressure phase Mg5Al5Si6O21(OH)7 (Mg-sursassite)

 Calorimetric and P–V–T data for the high-pressure phase Mg₅Al₅Si₆O₂₁(OH)₇ (Mg-sursassite) have been obtained. The enthalpy of drop solution of three different samples was measured by high-temperature oxide melt calorimetry in two laboratories (UC Davis, California, and Ruhr University Bochum, Germany) using lead borate (2PbO·B₂O₃) at T=700 ^∘C as solvent. The resulting values were used to calculate the enthalpy of formation from different thermodynamic datasets; they range from −221.1 to −259.4 kJ mol⁻¹ (formation from the oxides) respectively −13892.2 to −13927.9 kJ mol⁻¹ (formation from the elements). The heat capacity of Mg₅Al₅Si₆O₂₁(OH)₇ has been measured from T=50 ^∘C to T=500 ^∘C by differential scanning calorimetry in step-scanning mode. A Berman and Brown (1985)-type four-term equation represents the heat capacity over the entire temperature range to within the experimental uncertainty: C _P (Mg-sursassite) =(1571.104 −10560.89×T ^−0.5−26217890.0 ×T ⁻²+1798861000.0×T ⁻³) J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ (T in K). The P V T behaviour of Mg-sursassite has been determined under high pressures and high temperatures up to 8 GPa and 800 ^∘C using a MAX 80 cubic anvil high-pressure apparatus. The samples were mixed with Vaseline to ensure hydrostatic pressure-transmitting conditions, NaCl served as an internal standard for pressure calibration. By fitting a Birch-Murnaghan EOS to the data, the bulk modulus was determined as 116.0±1.3 GPa, (K ^′=4), V _T,0 =446.49 ³ exp[∫(0.33±0.05) × 10⁻⁴ + (0.65±0.85)×10⁻⁸ T dT], (K _T/T) _P  = −0.011± 0.004 GPa K⁻¹. The thermodynamic data obtained for Mg-sursassite are consistent with phase equilibrium data reported recently (Fockenberg 1998); the best agreement was obtained with Δ_f H ⁰ ₂₉₈ (Mg-sursassite) = −13901.33 kJ mol⁻¹, and S ⁰ ₂₉₈ (Mg-sursassite) = 614.61 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. Received: 21 September 2000 / Accepted: 26 February 2001     

The crystal structure of curite, [Pb6.56(H2O,OH)4] [(UO2)8O8(OH)6]2

Summary The crystal structure of curite, of which until now only the arrangement of the U and Pb atoms was known, has been redetermined with a synthetic crystal using three-dimensional X-ray techniques.R=0.043 for 1270 observed reflections. Curite is orthorhombic, space groupPnam-D _2h ¹⁶ ,a=12.513,b=13.002,c=8.373 ,Z=6.56 PbO·16UO₃·9.44H₂O. The structure consists of a novel type of washboard like puckered layers ² [(UO₂)₈O₈ (OH)₆]^6– formed by tetragonal bipyramidal [(UO₂)O₃(OH)] and pentagonal bipyramidal [(UO₂)O₃ (OH)₂] polyhedra. The layers are parallel to {100} and are directly connected by hydrogen bonds. Lead atoms and oxygen atoms (H₂O+OH) are located in folds between the layers, helping to connect them. The interlayer atomic positions are slightly disordered and one of them is partially occupied. The variable concentrations of the interlayer atoms are responsible for the changes in chemical composition.The structural formula [Pb_8–x (OH)_4–2x (H₂O)_2x ] [(UO₂)₈(OH)₆]₂ is suggested for curite;x=1.44 for the investigated synthetic curite. Within the three different U–O polyhedra the axial U–O distances are 1.81–1.88 , the equatorial 2.14–2.57 . The two different Pb atoms have ionic coordinations, each by ten oxygens with Pb–O distances of 2.46–3.32 , on the average 2.82 .

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Die Kristallstruktur von Curit, [Pb _6,56 (H ₂ O, OH) ₄ ] [(UO ₂)₈ O ₈(OH)₆]₂

Zusammenfassung Die Kristallstruktur von Curit, von der bisher nur die Lagen der Uran- und Bleiatome bekannt waren, wurde anhand eines künstlichen Kristalls mit dreidimensionalen Röntgendaten neu bearbeitet und für 1270 Reflexe aufR=0,043 verfeinert. Curit kristallisiert rhombisch, RaumgruppePnam-D _2h ¹⁶ ,a=12,513,b=13,002,c=8,373 ,Z=6,56 PbO·16 UO₃·9,44 H₂O. Die Struktur enthält gewellte Schichten eines neuen Typs, ² [(UO₂)₈O₈(OH)₆]^6–, die sich aus tetragonal bipyramidalen [(UO₂)O₃(OH)]- und pentagonal-bipyramidalen [(UO₂)O₃(OH)₂]-Polyedern zusammensetzen. Die Schichten verlaufen parallel {100} und sind über Wasserstoffbrücken miteinander unmittelbar verknüpft. Zwischen den Schichten befinden sich Bleiatome und zusätzliche Sauerstoffatome (H₂O+OH). Diese Atome weisen zum Teil Fehlordnung auf; eine der beiden Pb-Lagen ist nur partiell besetzt. Für Schwankungen in der chemischen Zusammensetzung von Curit ist der unterschiedliche Gehalt an Zwischenschichtatomen verantwortlich. Aufgrund dieser Untersuchung wird die Strukturformel [Pb_8–x (OH)_4–2x (H₂O)_2x ] [(UO₂)₈O₈(OH)₆]₂ vorgeschlagen; für den untersuchten Curit istx=1,44. Die drei verschiedenen U–O-Polyeder der Struktur besitzen axiale bzw. äquatoriale U–O-Abstände von 1,81–1,88 bzw. 2,14–2,57 . Die zwei Arten von Bleiatomen besitzen eine ionische Koordination; beide sind von 10 Sauerstoffatomen in Abständen von 2,46–3,32 (Mittelwert 2,82 ) umgeben.

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With 3 Figures     

Synthesis, properties and stability of end member boromuscovite, KAl2[BSi3O10](OH)2

End member boromuscovite, with nearly the ideal composition, was synthesized as a single phase from mixtures of its own composition, or with excess boron and water, at high pressures of between 15 and 30 kbar at 700 °C. The mica synthesized consists of a mixture of 2M₁ and 1M polytypes with the cell dimensions of 2M₁: a=5.071(4), b=8.786(4), c=19.830(89) Å, #=95.84(12)°, V=878.5(1.4) ų; and 1M: a=5.059(5), b=8.819(6), c=10.025(17) Å, #=101.39(57)°, V=438.4(1.3) Å. The IR spectrum shows characteristic differences relative to that of muscovite. DTA registers an endothermic peak due to dehydration breakdown above 680 °C. Seeded experiments indicate that boromuscovite is a high-pressure phase requiring minimum pressures of 3 to 10 kbar at temperatures that concomitantly increase from 300 to 750 °C. At lower pressures, the anhydrous solid assemblage K-feldspar + Al-borate (probably Al₄B₂O₉) coexists with a vapor rich in boric acid. The conversion of this assemblage to boromuscovite is connected with increases in the coordination number of B from [3] to [4], and of Al from [4] to [6]. Above 10 kbar, the boromuscovite stability field is limited along its high-temperature side by congruent (or incongruent?) melting of the mica, starting near 750 °C and 10 kbar and increasing to about 900 °C at 50 kbar, although, at such very high pressures a supercritical fluid may be present. Because, even in the presence of excess-boron fluid, the synthetic mica shows invariable X-ray properties, it is concluded that one B atom per formula unit represents the maximum, and - contrary to olenitic tourmalines - no further substitution of Si by B linked with addition of hydrogen takes place. In contrast to muscovite, KAl₂[AlSi₃O₁₀](OH)₂, end member boromuscovite is not stable under normal P-T conditions of the Continental Crust along a 30 °C/km geotherm, and especially not during the intrusion of acidic igneous rocks including their pegmatites, which may explain its scarcity in nature. However, it may form in the waning hydrothermal stages of deep-seated (>10.5 km) pegmatites and - providing sufficient boron is available - in HP/LT subduction zone environments, where it may carry boron to considerable depths.     

The low-pressure stability of phase A,Mg7Si2O8(OH)6

 Phase A, Mg₇Si₂O₈(OH)₆, is a dense hydrous magnesium silicate whose importance as a host of H₂O in the Earth’s mantle is a subject of debate. We have investigated the low-pressure stability of phase A in experiments on the reaction phase A=brucite+forsterite. Experiments were conducted in piston-cylinder and multi-anvil apparatus, using mixtures of synthetic phase A, brucite and forsterite. The reaction was bracketed between 2.60 and 2.75 GPa at 500° C, between 3.25 and 3.48 GPa at 600° C and between 3.75 and 3.95 GPa at 650^° C. These pressures are much lower than observed in the synthesis experiments of Yamamoto and Akimoto (1977). At 750^° C the stability field of brucite + chondrodite was entered. The enthalpy of formation and entropy of phase A at 1 bar (10⁵ Pa), 298 K, were derived from the experimental brackets on the reaction phase A=brucite+forsterite using a modified version of the thermodynamic dataset THERMOCALC of Holland and Powell (1990), which includes a new equation of state of H₂O derived from the molecular dynamics simulations of Brodholt and Wood (1993). The data for phase A are: ΔH ^o _f =−7126±8 kJ mol^-1, S ^o=351 J K^-1 mol^-1. Incorporating these data into THERMOCALC allows the positions of other reactions involving phase A to be calculated, for example the reaction phase A + enstatite=forsterite+vapour, which limits the stability of phase A in equilibrium with enstatite. The calculated position of this reaction (753° C at 7 GPa to 937° C at 10 GPa) is in excellent agreement with the experimental brackets of Luth (1995) between 7 and 10 GPa, supporting the choice of equation of state of H₂O used in THERMOCALC. Comparison of our results with calculated P-T paths of subducting slabs (Peacock et al. 1994) suggests that, in the system MgO–SiO₂–H₂O, phase A could crystallise in compositions with Mg/Si>2 at pressures as low as 3 GPa. In less Mg rich compositions phase A could crystallise at pressures above approximately 6 GPa. Received: 3 July 1995/Accepted: 14 December 1995     

Characterisation of tobelite (NH4)Al2[AlSi3O10](OH)2 and ND4-tobelite (ND4)Al2[AlSi3O10](OD)2 using IR spectroscopy and Rietveld refinement of XRD spectra

Tobelite (NH₄) Al₂ [AlSi₃O₁₀] (OH)₂, the ammonium analogue of muscovite, and its deuterated form ND₄-tobelite (ND₄) Al₂ [AlSi₃O₁₀] (OD)₂ have been synthesised at 600?°C and 200 and 500 Mpa using a well homogenised, stoichiometric SiO₂-Al₂O₃ oxide mix with Al₂O₃ in excess of 5 mol% and a 25% NH₃ solution whose relative abundance was such that the amount of NH₄ ⁺ stoichiometrically available was in excess of 50%. Characterisation of both tobelite and ND₄-tobelite using IR-spectroscopy, Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data, and electron microprobe analysis indicate that, similar to K⁺ in muscovite, the NH₄ ⁺ or ND₄ ⁺ molecule occupies the interlayer site. IR absorption bands caused by NH₄ ⁺ and ND₄ ⁺ can be explained, to a very good approximation, on the basis of T_d symmetry. Nevertheless, substantial line broadening and the occurrence of shoulders indicate a deviation from ideal T_d symmetry. However, even at 77?K, no discrete splitting of the degenerate states could be confirmed. The OH stretching frequencies observed for synthetic tobelite are quite similar to those for muscovite, indicating that the replacement of K⁺ by NH₄ ⁺ has no effect. The low FWHH of the OH bands indicate that the hydroxyl groups are well ordered within the structure. Rietveld refinement of tobelite and ND₄-tobelite indicates that all samples synthesised consist of the 3 different mica polytypes which are typical of muscovite – namely 1M (C2/m), 2M ₁ (C2/c) and 2M ₂ (C2/c). Tobelite and ND₄-tobelite synthesised at 500 Mpa principally contain the 1M polytype, whereas the principle polytype for ND₄-tobelite synthesised at 200 Mpa, is 2M ₂. Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction spectra for tobelite synthesised at 200 Mpa was problematic due to the very broad FWHH of the X-ray peaks indicating poor crystallinity. In comparision to synthetic muscovite, the cell dimensions observed for tobelite and its deuterated analogue are quite similar except for the lattice constant c. Due to the larger radius of NH₄ ⁺ or ND₄ ⁺ compared to K⁺ cation, the c-direction is expanded form 10.275 Å in muscovite to approximately 10.540 Å in tobelite and ND₄-tobelite.     

Sodium trisilicate: A new high-pressure silicate structure (Na2Si[Si2O7])

Crystals of sodium trisilicate (Na₂Si₃O₇) have been grown in the presence of melt at 9 GPa, 1200 °C using the MA6/8 superpress at Edmonton, and the X-ray structure determined at room pressure (R=2.0%). Na₂Si₃O₇ is monoclinic with a=8.922(2) Å, b= 4.8490(5) Å, c=11.567(1) Å, β=102.64(1)° (C2/c), D _x = 3.295 g·cm^-3. Silicon occurs in both tetrahedral and octahedral coordination (^[6]Si∶^[4]Si = l∶2). The SiO₄ tetrahedra form a diorthosilicate [Si₂O₇] group and are linked by the isolated SiO₆ octahedra via shared corners into a framework of 6-membered (^[4]Si-^[4]Si-^[6]Si^[4]Si-^[4] Si-^[6]Si) and 4-membered (^[4]Si-^[6]Si-^[4]Sr-^[6]Si) rings: 〈^[6]Si-O〉=1.789 Å, 〈^[4]Si-O〉= 1.625 Å, ^[4]Si-O-^[4]Si=132.9° and the bridging oxygen is overbonded (s = 2.22). Channels parallel to b-axis and [110] accommodate Na in irregular 6-fold coordination: 〈Na-O〉 = 2.511 Å.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of a triple chain silicate,Na2Mg4Si6O16(OH)2

In the system Na₂CO₃-MgO-SiO₂-H₂O a new sodium magnesium silicate was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions; 450–600 ° C and 300–1000 Kg/cm₂. The structure of the specimen was determined by X-ray powder methods, and its properties were studied by chemical, infrared and TG analyses. The specimen has a triple chain structure (space group, C2/c) with the ideal chemical composition, 4 (Na₂Mg₄Si₆O₁₆(OH)₂) and lattice parameters, a= 10.152(2), b=27.137(4), c=5.276(1) Å, and = 106.97(3) °.The essential feature of the structure is shown by the presence of SiO₄ tetrahedra linked to form chains which have three times the width of those in pyroxene. These triple chains have a periodicity, 5.27 Å, along their lengths, and are bonded to each other laterally by the brucite layer made up by eight Mg cations and sandwiched between two inward pointing bands of tetrahedra. These units are linked back to back by cations (Mg or Na) in the Na(2) site and by a large cation (Na) at the Na(1) site.     

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.