Garnet-clinopyroxene geothermometer

A garnet-clinopyroxene geothermometer based on the available experimental data on compositions of coexisting phases in the system MgO-FeO-MnO-Al₂O₃-Na₂O-SiO₂ is as follows: $$T({\text{}}K) = \frac{{8288 + 0.0276 P {\text{(bar)}} + Q1 - Q2}}{{1.987 \ln K_{\text{D}} + 2.4083}}$$ where P is pressure, and Q1, Q2, and K _D are given by the following equations $$Q1 = 2,710{\text{(}}X_{{\text{Fe}}} - X_{{\text{Mg}}} {\text{)}} + 3,150{\text{ }}X_{{\text{Ca}}} + 2,600{\text{ }}X_{{\text{Mn}}} $$ (mole fractions in garnet) $$\begin{gathered}Q2 = - 6,594[X_{{\text{Fe}}} {\text{(}}X_{{\text{Fe}}} - 2X_{{\text{Mg}}} {\text{)]}} \hfill \\{\text{ }} - 12762{\text{ [}}X_{{\text{Fe}}} - X_{{\text{Mg}}} (1 - X_{{\text{Fe}}} {\text{)]}} \hfill \\{\text{ }} - 11,281[X_{{\text{Ca}}} (1 - X_{{\text{Al}}} ) - 2X_{{\text{Mg}}} 2X_{{\text{Ca}}} ] \hfill \\{\text{ + 6137[}}X_{{\text{Ca}}} (2X_{{\text{Mg}}} + X_{{\text{Al}}} )] \hfill \\{\text{ + 35,791[}}X_{{\text{Al}}} (1 - 2X_{{\text{Mg}}} )] \hfill \\{\text{ + 25,409[(}}X_{{\text{Ca}}} )^2 ] - 55,137[X_{{\text{Ca}}} (X_{{\text{Mg}}} - X_{{\text{Fe}}} )] \hfill \\{\text{ }} - 11,338[X_{{\text{Al}}} (X_{{\text{Fe}}} - X_{{\text{Mg}}} )] \hfill \\\end{gathered} $$ [mole fractions in clinopyroxene Mg = MgSiO₃, Fe = FeSiO₃, Ca = CaSiO₃, Al = (Al₂O₃-Na₂O)] K _D = (Fe/Mg) in garnet/(Fe/Mg) in clinopyroxene. Mn and Cr in clinopyroxene, when present in small concentrations are added to Fe and Al respectively. Fe is total Fe²⁺+Fe³⁺.     

Partitioning of iron and magnesium between crystals and partial melts in peridotite upper mantle

The iron-magnesium distribution coefficient, $$K'_D = (X_{\Sigma {\text{FeO}}} /X_{{\text{MgO}}} )^{{\text{olivine}}} (X_{{\text{MgO}}} /X_{\Sigma {\text{FeO}}} )^{{\text{liquid}}} ,$$ has frequently been used as a means of testing whether experimental and natural silicate liquids could have been in equilibrium with olivine of mantle composition. It is shown here that this K′ _D decreases with increasing oxygen fugacity (xxx) for a hydrous partial melt in equilibrium with a natural spinel peridotite assemblage under pressure and temperature conditions corresponding to those of the upper mantle (from 0.52 at the xxx of the iron-wüstite buffer to 0.04 at the xxx of the magnetite-hematite buffer). K′ _D also increases with increasing pressure, with decreasing temperature, and probably with increasing Mg/(Mg+∑ Fe) of the parental peridotite, suggesting that $$K_D = (X_{{\text{FeO}}} /X_{{\text{MgO}}} )^{{\text{olivine}}} (X_{{\text{MgO}}} /X_{{\text{FeO}}} )^{{\text{liquid}}}$$ also increases with increasing pressure and decreasing temperature. Thus, unless these four variables (P, T, xxx, silicate composition) are known for a natural magma, K′ _D and probably K _D are variables, and the Mg/(Mg+∑ Fe) of such a magma cannot be correlated to that of the parent. The K _D determined at 1 atm pressure by Roeder and Emslie has frequently been used to test whether the Mg/(Mg+∑ Fe) ratios of experimentally formed liquids at high pressure in equilibrium with olivine of known Fo content represent the equilibrium Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺) of this liquid, assuming that ∑Fe=Fe²⁺ and that K′ _D does not vary with P, T, and composition of the system. Published data demonstrate that the oxygen fugacities of the experimental designs employed by different laboratories vary between those of the magnetite-hematite and magnetite-wüstite buffers (6 orders of magnitude), resulting in K′ _D between 0.04 and 0.31 at 1050° C and 15 kbar, for example. Thus, published arguments as to whether the quenched liquids represent equilibrium compositions based on iron-magnesium partitioning are inadequate. The effects of P, T, xxx, and the composition of the starting material must also be considered.     

Enstatite-diopside solvus and geothermometry

The enstatite-diopside solvus presents certain interesting thermodynamic and crystal-structural problems. The solvus may be considered as parts of two solvi one with the ortho-structure and the other with clino-structure. By assuming the standard free energy change for the two reactions (MgMgSi₂O₆)opx ? (MgMgSi₂O₆)cpx and (CaMgSi₂O₆) opx ? (CaMgSi₂O₆) cpx as 500 and 1 000 to 3 000 cal/mol respectively, it is possible to calculate the regular solution parameter W for orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene. These W's essentially refer to mixing on M2 sites. The expression for the equilibrium constant by assuming ideal mixing for Fe-Mg, Fe-Ca and non-ideal mixing for Ca-Mg on binary M1 and ternary M2 sites is given by 1 $$K_a = \frac{{X_{{\text{Mg - cpx}}}^{{\text{M1}}} X_{{\text{Mg - cpx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} \exp \left[ {\frac{{W_{{\text{cpx}}} }}{{RT}}\left\{ {X_{{\text{Ca - cpx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} \left( {X_{{\text{Ca - cpx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} + X_{{\text{Fe - cpx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} } \right)} \right\}} \right]}}{{X_{{\text{Mg - cpx}}}^{{\text{M1}}} X_{{\text{Mg - opx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} \exp \left[ {\frac{{W_{{\text{cpx}}} }}{{RT}}\left\{ {X_{{\text{Ca - opx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} \left( {X_{{\text{Ca - opx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} + X_{{\text{Fe - opx}}}^{{\text{M2}}} } \right)} \right\}} \right]}}$$ where X's are site occupancies, R is 1.987 and T is temperature in ^oK. Temperature of pyroxene crystallization may be estimated by substituting for T in the above equation until the equation ?RT In K _a=500 is satisfied. The shortcomings of this method are the incomplete standard free energy data on the end member components and the absence of site occupancy data in pyroxenes at high temperatures. The assumed free energy data do, however, show the possible extent of inaccuracy in temperature estimates resulting from the neglect of Mg-Ca non ideality.     

Clinoeulite (magnesian clinoferrosilite) in a eulysite of a metamorphosed iron formation in the vredefort structure,South Africa

A unique clinopyroxene (En₁₉Fs₇₈Wo₃), clinoeulite, space group P2₁/c, $${\text{(Fe}}_{{\text{1}}{\text{.48}}} {\text{Mg}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.37}}} {\text{Mn}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.08}}}^{{\text{2 + }}} {\text{Ca}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.05}}} {\text{Al}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.01}}} {\text{)}}_{{\text{1}}{\text{.99}}} {\text{ [Si}}_{{\text{2}}{\text{.01}}} {\text{O6],}}$$ contains sharp exsolution lamellae of ferroaugite (En₁₇Fs₄₃Wo₄₀) from which the former presence of a ferropigeonite near En₁₇Fs₇₀Wo₁₃ can be calculated. This two-pyroxene intergrowth is the main component of a eulysite containing also magnetite, olivine (Fo₉Fa₈₆Te₅), quartz, oligoclase-K feldspar inter-growth, and retrograde cummingtonite with about 76 % grunerite end member. The occurrence of this most unusual rock type in the center of the Vredefort structure is attributed to a period of high-temperature metamorphism (at least 800 °–850 °C) which was followed by hot deformation of the rock during the Vredefort event thus probably preventing the common formation of orthopyroxene through pigeonite exsolution and inversion upon cooling. After this tectonic deformation, the rock recrystallized within the low-temperature stability range of clinoeulite to yield fine annealing textures. Late-stage equilibria at temperatures well below 500 °C include the complete unmixing of a former high-temperature anorthoclase, a Mg/Fe redistribution in the clinoeulite and olivine and, with the introduction of water, the partial formation of cummingtonite through reaction of clinoeulite, olivine, and quartz. During weathering the olivine was transformed to a nearly opaque, anhydrous ferrisilicate which, except for the change of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ and the oxygen introduction, largely retained its original chemistry.     

Experimental investigation and application of the equilibrium rutile + orthopyroxene = quartz + ilmenite

Equilibria in the Sirf (Silica-Ilmenite-Rutile-Ferrosilite) system: $${\text{SiO}}_{\text{2}} + ({\text{Mg,Fe}}){\text{TiO}}_{\text{3}} {\text{ + (Mg,Fe)SiO}}_{\text{3}} $$ have been calibrated in the range 800–1100° C and 12–26 kbar using a piston-cylinder apparatus to assess the potential of the equilibria for geobarometry in granulite facies assemblages that lack garnet. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that the two end-member equilibria involving quartz + geikielite = rutile + enstatite, and quartz + ilmenite = rutile + ferrosilite, are metastable. We therefore reversed equilibria over the compositional range Fs_40–70, using Ag₈₀Pd₂₀ capsules with \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } \) buffered at or near iron-wüstite. Ilmenite compositions coexisting with orthopyroxene are \(X_{{\text{MgTiO}}_{\text{3}} }^{{\text{Ilm}}} \) of 0.06 to 0.15 and \(X_{{\text{Fe}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}} }^{{\text{Ilm}}} \) of 0.00 to 0.01, corresponding toK _D values of 13.3, 10.2, 9.0 and 8.0 (±0.5) at 800, 900, 1000 and 1100° C, respectively, whereK _D =(XMg/XFe)^Opx/(XMg/XFe)^Ilm. Pressures have been calculated using equilibria in the Sirf system for granulites from the Grenville Province of Ontario and for granulite facies xenoliths from central Mexico. Pressures are consistent with other well-calibrated geobarometers for orthopyroxeneilmenite pairs from two Mexican samples in which oxide textures appear to represent equilibrium. Geologically unreasonable pressures are obtained, however, where oxide textures are complex. Application of data from this study on the equilibrium distribution of iron and magnesium between ilmenite and orthopyroxene suggests that some ilmenite in deep crustal xenoliths is not equilibrated with coexisting pyroxene, while assemblages from exposed granulite terranes have reequilibrated during retrogression. The Sirf equilibria are sensitive to small changes in composition and may be used for determination of activity/composition (a/X) relations of orthopyroxene if an ilmenite model is specified. A symmetric regular solution model has been used for orthopyroxene in conjunction with activity models for ilmenite available from the literature to calculatea/X relations in orthopyroxene of intermediate composition. Data from this study indicate that FeSiO₃?MgSiO₃ orthopyroxene exhibits small, positive deviations from ideality over the range 800–1100°C.     

(Ca,Mg)2Si2O6 clinopyroxenes: A solution model based on nonconvergent site-disorder

Experiments at high pressure and temperature indicate that excess Ca may be dissolved in diopside. If the (Ca, Mg)₂Si₂O₆ clinopyroxene solution extends to more Ca-rich compositions than CaMgSi₂O₆, macroscopic regular solution models cannot strictly be applied to this system. A nonconvergent site-disorder model, such as that proposed by Thompson (1969, 1970), may be more appropriate. We have modified Thompson's model to include asymmetric excess parameters and have used a linear least-squares technique to fit the available experimental data for Ca-Mg orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene equilibria and Fe-free pigeonite stability to this model. The model expressions for equilibrium conditions \(\mu _{{\text{Mg}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{6}} }^{{\text{opx}}} = \mu _{{\text{Mg}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{6}} }^{{\text{cpx}}} \) (reaction A) and \(\mu _{{\text{Ca}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{6}} }^{{\text{opx}}} = \mu _{{\text{Ca}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{6}} }^{{\text{cpx}}} \) (reaction B) are given by: 1 $$\begin{gathered} \Delta \mu _{\text{A}}^{\text{O}} = {\text{RT 1n}}\left[ {\frac{{(X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{opx}}} )^2 }}{{X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M1}}} \cdot X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M2}}} }}} \right] - \frac{1}{2}\{ W_{21} [2(X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M2}}} )^3 - (X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M2}}} ] \hfill \\ {\text{ + 2W}}_{{\text{22}}} [X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M2}}} )^2 - (X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M2}}} )^3 + \Delta {\text{G}}_{\text{*}}^{\text{0}} (X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M1}}} \cdot X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M2}}} )\} \hfill \\ {\text{ + W}}^{{\text{opx}}} (X_{{\text{Wo}}}^{{\text{opx}}} )^2 \hfill \\ \Delta \mu _{\text{B}}^{\text{O}} = {\text{RT 1n}}\left[ {\frac{{(X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{opx}}} )^2 }}{{X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M1}}} \cdot X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M2}}} }}} \right] - \frac{1}{2}\{ 2W_{21} [2(X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M2}}} )^2 - (X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M2}}} )^3 ] \hfill \\ {\text{ + W}}_{{\text{22}}} [2(X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M2}}} )^3 - (X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M2}}} )^2 + \Delta {\text{G}}_{\text{*}}^{\text{0}} (X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M1}}} \cdot X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M2}}} )\} \hfill \\ {\text{ + W}}^{{\text{opx}}} (X_{{\text{En}}}^{{\text{opx}}} )^2 \hfill \\ \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ where 1 $$\begin{gathered} \Delta \mu _{\text{A}}^{\text{O}} = 2.953 + 0.0602{\text{P}} - 0.00179{\text{T}} \hfill \\ \Delta \mu _{\text{B}}^{\text{O}} = 24.64 + 0.958{\text{P}} - (0.0286){\text{T}} \hfill \\ {\text{W}}_{{\text{21}}} = 47.12 + 0.273{\text{P}} \hfill \\ {\text{W}}_{{\text{22}}} = 66.11 + ( - 0.249){\text{P}} \hfill \\ {\text{W}}^{{\text{opx}}} = 40 \hfill \\ \Delta {\text{G}}_*^0 = 155{\text{ (all values are in kJ/gfw)}}{\text{.}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ . Site occupancies in clinopyroxene were determined from the internal equilibrium condition 1 $$\begin{gathered} \Delta G_{\text{E}}^{\text{O}} = - {\text{RT 1n}}\left[ {\frac{{X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M1}}} \cdot X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M2}}} }}{{X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M2}}} \cdot X_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{M1}}} }}} \right] + \tfrac{1}{2}[(2{\text{W}}_{{\text{21}}} - {\text{W}}_{{\text{22}}} )(2{\text{X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M2}}} - 1) \hfill \\ {\text{ + }}\Delta G_*^0 (X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M1}}} - X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M2}}} ) + \tfrac{3}{2}(2{\text{W}}_{{\text{21}}} - {\text{W}}_{{\text{22}}} ) \hfill \\ {\text{ (1}} - 2X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M1}}} )(X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{M1}}} + \tfrac{1}{2})] \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ where δG _E ⁰ =153+0.023T+1.2P. The predicted concentrations of Ca on the clinopyroxene Ml site are low enough to be compatible with crystallographic studies. Temperatures calculated from the model for coexisting ortho- and clinopyroxene pairs fit the experimental data to within 10° in most cases; the worst discrepancy is 30°. Phase relations for clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and pigeonite are successfully described by this model at temperatures up to 1,600° C and pressures from 0.001 to 40 kbar. Predicted enthalpies of solution agree well with the calorimetric measurements of Newton et al. (1979). The nonconvergent site disorder model affords good approximations to both the free energy and enthalpy of clinopyroxenes, and, therefore, the configurational entropy as well. This approach may provide an example for Febearing pyroxenes in which cation site exchange has an even more profound effect on the thermodynamic properties.     

Quaternary acid magma in New Zealand

The voluminous Pleistocene—Recent Taupo rhyolites typically contain phenocrysts of plagioclase (oligoclase-labradorite), quartz, titanomagnetite, ilmenite, and ferromagnesian silicates. Ferromagnesian assemblages correlate with well defined Fe-Ti oxide equilibration temperature ranges and allow the rhyolites to be subdivided as follows: (1) Cummingtonite (c)—calcic hornblende (hb)—orthopyroxene (opx); 725–755°C, (2) Hb-opx, 750–825°C, (3) Biotite-hb-(c-opx), 720–765°C, (4) Opx-clinopyroxene (cpx), 860–915°C, (5) Fe olivine-opx-cpx, one sample with temperature of 900°C. Plagioclase and orthopyroxene phenocryst compositions typically exhibit a range of composition up to ～20 mol.%. Calculated average phenocryst equilibration pressures (P _total) range between 0.5–4.9 kb, and average 2.2 kb (～7–8 km depth), indicating upper crustal crystallization. These calculations are very sensitive to variations in phenocryst composition. Calculated \(/_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \) for the amphibole and biotite-bearing rhyolites indicate phenocryst equilibration under \(P_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \simeq P_{{\text{total}}} \) , with \(X_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \) ～0.17–0.24 (5–8 wt. %). The precipitation of cummingtonite is thus temperature dependent, the upper limit being close to 760°C. Eruptive mechanisms of the lavas, pumices, and ash-flow deposits are evidently not primarily controlled by temperature, P _total, \(P_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} \) , or crystal content of the magmas, and explanations must lie in kinetic and fluid dynamic behavior of the magmas. For the Taupo rhyolites, it is suggested that the critical size of a magma body (i.e. Rayleigh number) is a controlling factor in that it will influence the convective regime; fully turbulent convection is deduced to have occurred within the larger magma bodies. One consequence is intense vesiculation, prior to eruption, within the uppermost zones of these magma chambers, and the voluminous pumice deposits are believed to emanate from such chambers. Oscillatory compositional zoning within pyroxene phenocrysts is consistent with magma convection.     

Optical absorption and mössbauer spectra of purple and green yoderite,a kyanite-related mineral

Mössbauer and polarized optical absorption spectra of the kyanite-related mineral yoderite were recorded. Mössbauer spectra of the purple (PY) and green yoderite (GY) from Mautia Hill, Tanzania, show that the bulk of the iron is Fe³⁺ in both varieties, with Fe²⁺/(Fe²⁺+Fe³⁺) ratios near 0.05. Combining this result with new microprobe data for PY and with literature data for GY gives the crystallochemical formulae: $$\begin{gathered} ({\text{Mg}}_{{\text{1}}{\text{.95}}} {\text{Fe}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.02}}}^{{\text{2 + }}} {\text{Mn}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.01}}}^{{\text{2 + }}} {\text{Fe}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.34}}}^{{\text{3 + }}} {\text{Mn}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.07}}}^{{\text{3 + }}} {\text{Ti}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.01}}} {\text{Al}}_{{\text{3}}{\text{.57}}} )_{5.97}^{[5,6]} \hfill \\ {\text{Al}}_{{\text{2}}{\text{.00}}}^{{\text{[5]}}} [({\text{Si}}_{{\text{3}}{\text{.98}}} {\text{P}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.03}}} ){\text{O}}_{{\text{18}}{\text{.02}}} ({\text{OH)}}_{{\text{1}}{\text{.98}}} ] \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ and PY and $$\begin{gathered} ({\text{Mg}}_{{\text{1}}{\text{.98}}} {\text{Fe}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.02}}}^{{\text{2 + }}} {\text{Mn}}_{{\text{< 0}}{\text{.001}}}^{{\text{2 + }}} {\text{Fe}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.45}}}^{{\text{3 + }}} {\text{Ti}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.01}}} {\text{Al}}_{{\text{3}}{\text{.56}}} )_{6.02}^{[5,6]} \hfill \\ {\text{Al}}_{{\text{2}}{\text{.00}}}^{{\text{[5]}}} [({\text{Si}}_{{\text{3}}{\text{.91}}} {\text{O}}_{{\text{17}}{\text{.73}}} {\text{(OH)}}_{{\text{2}}{\text{.27}}} ] \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ for GY. The Mössbauer spectra at room temperature contain one main doublet with isomer shifts and quadrupole splittings of 0.36 (PY), 0.38 (GY) and 1.00 (PY), 0.92 (GY) mm s^?1, respectively. These values correspond to Fe³⁺ in six or five-fold coordination. The doublet components have anomalously large half widths indicating either accomodation of Fe³⁺ in more than one position (e.g., octahedraA1 and five coordinatedA2) or the yet unresolved superstructure. Besides strong absorption in the ultraviolet (UV) starting from about 25,000 cm^?1, the polarized optical absorption spectra are dominated by strong bands around 16,500 and 21,000 cm^?1 (PY) and a medium strong band at around 13,800 cm^?1 (GY). Position and polarization of these bands, in combination with the UV absorption, explain the colour and pleochroism of the two varieties. The bands in question are assigned to homonuclear metal-to-metal charge transfer transitions: Mn²⁺(A1) Mn³⁺(A1′) ? Mn³⁺(A1) Mn²⁺(A1′) and Mn²⁺(A1) Mn³⁺(A2 ? Mn³⁺(A1) Mn²⁺(A2) in PY and Fe²⁺(A1) Fe³⁺(A1′) ? Fe³⁺(A1) Fe²⁺(A1′) in GY. The evidence for homonuclear Mn²⁺ Mn³⁺ charge transfer (CTF) is not quite clear and needs further study. Heteronuclear FeTi CTF does not contribute to the spectra. In PY, additional weak bands were resolved at energies around 17,700, 18,700, 21,000, and 21,900 cm^?1 and assigned to Mn³⁺ in two positions. Weak bands around 10,000 cm^?1 in both varieties are assigned to Fe²⁺ spin-alloweddd-transitions. Very weak and sharp bands, around 15,400, 16,400, 21,300, 22,100, 23,800, and 25,000 cm^?1 are identified in GY and assigned to Fe³⁺ spin-forbiddendd-transitions.     

Energetics of hydration of cordierite and water barometry in cordierite-granulites

The Gibbs free energy and volume changes attendant upon hydration of cordierites in the system magnesian cordierite-water have been extracted from the published high pressure experimental data at \(P_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} \) =P _total, assuming an ideal one site model for H₂O in cordierite. Incorporating the dependence of ΔG and ΔV on temperature, which was found to be linear within the experimental conditions of 500°–1,000°C and 1–10,000 bars, the relation between the water content of cordierite and P, T and \(f_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} \) has been formulated as $$\begin{gathered} X_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}}^{{\text{crd}}} = \hfill \\ \frac{{f_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}}^{{\text{P, T}}} }}{{\left[ {{\text{exp}}\frac{1}{{RT}}\left\{ {64,775 - 32.26T + G_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}}^{{\text{1, }}T} - P\left( {9 \times 10^{ - 4} T - 0.5142} \right)} \right\}} \right] + f_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}}^{{\text{P, T}}} }} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The equation can be used to compute H₂O in cordierites at \(P_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} \) <1. Our results at different P, T and partial pressure of water, assuming ideal mixing of H₂O and CO₂ in the vapour phase, are in very good agreement with the experimental data of Johannes and Schreyer (1977, 1981). Applying the formulation to determine \(X_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}}^{{\text{crd}}} \) in the garnet-cordierite-sillimanite-plagioclase-quartz granulites of Finnish Lapland as a test case, good agreement with the gravimetrically determined water contents of cordierite was obtained. Pressure estimates, from a thermodynamic modelling of the Fe-cordierite — almandine — sillimanite — quartz equilibrium at \(P_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} = 0\) and \(P_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} \) =P_total, for assemblages from South India, Scottish Caledonides, Daly Bay and Hara Lake areas are compatible with those derived from the garnetplagioclase-sillimanite-quartz geobarometer.     

The ferric-ferrous ratio of natural silicate liquids equilibrated in air

Results of chemical analyses of glasses produced in 46 melting experiments in air at 1,350° C and 1,450° C on rocks ranging in composition from nephelinite to rhyolite have been combined with other published data to obtain an empirical equation relating in \((X_{{\text{Fe}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}} }^{{\text{liq}}} /X_{{\text{FeO}}}^{{\text{liq}}} )\) to T, \(\ln f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } \) and bulk composition. The whole set of experimental data range over 1,200–1,450° C and oxygen fugacities of 10^?9.00 to 10^?0.69 bars, respectively. The standard errors of temperature and \(\log _{10} f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } \) predictions from this equation are 52° C and 0.5 units, respectively, for 186 experiments.     

The system Fe-Si-O: Oxygen buffer calibrations to 1,500K

The five solid-phase oxygen buffers of the system Fe-Si-O, iron-wuestite (IW), wuestite-magnetite (WM), magnetite-hematite (MH), quartz-iron-fayalite (QIF) and fayalite-magnetite-quartz (FMQ) have been recalibrated at 1 atm pressure and temperatures from 800°–1,300° C, using a thermogravimetric gas mixing furnace. The oxygen fugacity, \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) was measured with a CaO-doped ZrO₂ electrode. Measurements were made also for wuestite solid solutions in order to determine the redox behavior of wuestites with O/Fe ratios varying from 1.05 to 1.17. For FMQ, additional determinations were carried out at 1 kb over a temperature range of 600° to 800° C, using a modified Shaw membrane. Results agree reasonably well with published data and extrapolations. The reaction parameters K, ΔG _r ^o , ΔH _r ^o , and ΔS _r ^o were calculated from the following log \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) /T relations (T in K): $$\begin{gathered} {\text{IW }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 26,834.7/T + 6.471\left( { \pm 0.058} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{800}} - 1,260{\text{ C}}} \right), \hfill \\ {\text{WM }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 36,951.3/T + 16.092\left( { \pm 0.045} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{1,000}} - 1,300{\text{ C}}} \right), \hfill \\ {\text{MH }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 23,847.6/T + 13.480\left( { \pm 0.055} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{1,040}} - 1,270{\text{ C}}} \right), \hfill \\ {\text{QIF }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 27,517.5/T + 6.396\left( { \pm 0.049} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{960}} - 1,140{\text{ C}}} \right), \hfill \\ {\text{FMQ }}\log f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = - 24,441.9/T + 8.290\left( { \pm 0.167} \right) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}\left( {{\text{600}} - 1,140{\text{ C}}} \right). \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ These experimentally determined reaction parameters were combined with published 298 K data to determine the parameters G_f, H_f, and S_f for the phases wuestite, magnetite, hematite, and fayalite from 298 K to the temperatures of the experiments. The T? \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) data for wuestite solid solutions were used to obtain activities, excess free energies and Margules mixing parameters. The new data provide a more reliable, consistent and complete reference set for the interpretation of redox reactions at elevated temperatures in experiments and field settings encompassing the crust, mantle and core as well as extraterrestrial environments.     

Magnesiocummingtonite-P21/m: A Ca- and Mn-Poor Clino-Amphibole from New South Wales

A Ca- and Mn-poor clino-amphibole with Mg/Mg+Fe_tot+Mn (atomic ratio)=0.81 is described. The structural formula is $$Na_{0.09} (Ca_{0.19} Mg_{5.45} Fe_{1.23}^{2 + } Mn_{0.04} Fe_{0.00}^{3 + } Ti_{0.01} Al_{0.07} )_{6.99} [(Si_{7.83} Al_{0.17} )_{8.00} O_{22} /(OH)_2 ].$$ The unit-cell constants area ₀=9.49 Å,b ₀=18.00 Å,c ₀=5.30 Å, β=102.0°,V ₀=886 ų, the refractive indices α_Na=1.621, β_Na=1.632, and γ_Na=1.643. These values, when plotted against the Mg/Mg+Fe ratio, fit the extrapolations towards Mg₇[Si₈O₂₂/(OH)₂] from recently published determinative curves for the cummingtonite series. The clino-amphibole, or part of it, has space groupP2₁/m rather thanC2/m. The most magnesian cummingtonites reported thus far have Mg/Mg+Fe+Mn ratios around 0.7, but recently more magnesian Ca-poorP2₁/m clino-amphiboles have been reported. Although Ca and Mn have been claimed to stabilize cummingtonite as against anthophyllite, most magnesian cummingtonites appear to have <0.24 Ca, and <0.1 Mn per formula unit. The nomenclature of the cummingtonite series is discussed. Retaining the subdivision of the cummingtonite series at Mg/Mg+Fe=0.5, the author proposes to reviveTilley’s (1939) name magnesiocummingtonite for members with Mg/Mg+Fe >0.5. Grunerite is reserved for members with Mg/Mg+Fe <0.5. The space group,C2/m orP2₁/m, may be indicated with a suffix, if known.     

Non-ideal mixing in the phlogopite-annite binary: constraints from experimental data on Mg−Fe partitioning and a reformulation of the biotite-garnet geothermometer

The existing experimental data [Ferry and Spear 1978; Perchuk and Lavrent'eva 1983] on Mg?Fe partitioning between garnet and biotite are disparate. The underlying assumption of ideal Mg?Fe exchange between the minerals has been examined on the basis of recently available thermochemical data. Using the updated mixing parameters for the pyrope-almandine asymmetric regular solution as inputs [Ganguly and Saxena 1984; Hackler and Wood 1984], thermodynamic analysis points to non-ideal mixing in the phlogopite-annite binary in the temperature range of 550°C–950°C. The non-ideality can be approximated by a temperature-independent, one constant Margules parameter. The retrieved values for enthalpy of mixing for Mg?Fe biotites and the standard state enthalpy and entropy changes of the exchange reaction were combined with existing thermochemical data on grossular-pyrope and grossular-almandine binaries to obtain geothermometric expressions for Mg?Fe fractionation between biotite and garnet. [T in K] $$\begin{gathered} {\text{T(HW) = [20286 + 0}}{\text{.0193P - \{ 2080(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)}}^{\text{2}} {\text{ - 6350(X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)}}^{\text{2}} \hfill \\ {\text{ - 13807(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)(1 - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{) + 8540(X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)(1 - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)}} \hfill \\ {\text{ + 4215(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{)\} + 4441}}{{{\text{(2X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Bt}}} {\text{ - 1)]}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\text{(2X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Bt}}} {\text{ - 1)]}}} {{\text{[13}}{\text{.138}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{[13}}{\text{.138}}}} \hfill \\ {\text{ + 8}}{\text{.3143 InK}}_{\text{D}} {\text{ + 6}}{\text{.276(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(1 - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )] \hfill \\ {\text{T(GS) = [13538 + 0}}{\text{.0193P - \{ 837(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )^{\text{2}} {\text{ - 10460(X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )^2 \hfill \\ {\text{ - 13807(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )(1{\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{) + 19246(X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(1 - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ) \hfill \\ {\text{ }}{{{\text{ + 5649(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{\} + 7972(2X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Bt}}} {\text{ - 1)]}}} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\text{ + 5649(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{(X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} {\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Fe}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} ){\text{\} + 7972(2X}}_{{\text{Mg}}}^{{\text{Bt}}} {\text{ - 1)]}}} {{\text{[6}}{\text{.778}}}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{[6}}{\text{.778}}}} \hfill \\ {\text{ + 8}}{\text{.3143InK}}_{\text{D}} {\text{ + 6}}{\text{.276(X}}_{{\text{Ca}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )(1{\text{ - X}}_{{\text{Mn}}}^{{\text{Gt}}} )] \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The reformulated geothermometer is an improvement over existing biotite-garnet geothermometers because it reconciles the experimental data sets on Fe?Mg partitioning between the two phases and is based on updated activity-composition relationship in Fe?Mg?Ca garnet solid solutions.     

Thermodynamics of coexisting cummingtonite-hornblende Pairs

The activity-composition relations for calcium-rich and calcium-poor amphiboles are calculated from the composition of coexisting cummingtonite-hornblende pairs from a suite of New Zealand rhyolites. The activities are formulated in terms of site occupancies and the regular solution model is used to represent non-ideal mixing of the cations on each site. The regular solution parameters for each site are calculated from the compositions of the coexisting amphiboles. The resulting activity-composition relations are used to calibrate the standard Gibbs energy change for the reaction $${\text{7MgSiO}}_{\text{3}} {\text{ + SiO}}_{\text{2}} {\text{ + H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O = Mg}}_{\text{7}} {\text{Si}}_{\text{8}} {\text{O}}_{{\text{22}}} {\text{(OH)}}_{\text{2}} $$ assuming that the lowest temperature rhyolites in this suite crystallised at \(P_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{O}}} = P_{{\text{total}}} \)      

Partition of Ni between olivine and sulfide: the effect of temperature,f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } and f_{{\text{S}}_{\text{2}} }

The experimental distribution coefficient for Ni/ Fe exchange between olivine and monosulfide (K_D3) is 35.6±1.1 at 1385° C, \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } = 10^{ - 8.87} ,f_{{\text{S}}_{\text{2}} } = 10^{ - 1.02} \) , and olivine of composition Fo96 to Fo92. These are the physicochemical conditions appropriate to hypothesized sulfur-saturated komatiite magma. The present experiments equilibrated natural olivine grains with sulfide-oxide liquid in the presence of a (Mg, Fe)-alumino-silicate melt. By a variety of different experimental procedures, K _D3 is shown to be essentially constant at about 30 to 35 in the temperature range 900 to 1400° C, for olivine of composition Fo97 to FoO, monosulfide composition with up to 70 mol. % NiS, and a wide range of \(f_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} } \) and \(f_{{\text{S}}_{\text{2}} } \) .     

Amphibole composition in tonalite as a function of pressure: an experimental calibration of the Al-in-hornblende barometer

The Al-in-hornblende barometer, which correlates Al^tot content of magmatic hornblende linearly with crystallization pressure of intrusion (Hammarstrom and Zen 1986), has been calibrated experimentally under water-saturated conditions at pressures of 2.5–13 kbar and temperatures of 700–655°C. Equilibration of the assemblage hornlende-biotite-plagioclase-orthoclasequartz-sphene-Fe-Ti-oxide-melt-vapor from a natural tonalite 15–20° above its wet solidus results in hornblende compositions which can be fit by the equation: P(±0.6 kbar) = –3.01 + 4.76 Al _hbl ^tot r ²=0.99, where Al^tot is the total Al content of hornblende in atoms per formula unit (apfu). Al^tot increase with pressure can be ascribed mainly to a tschermak-exchange ( ) accompanied by minor plagioclase-substitution ( ). This experimental calibration agrees well with empirical field calibrations, wherein pressures are estimated by contact-aureole barometry, confirming that contact-aureole pressures and pressures calculated by the Al-in-hornblende barometer are essentially identical. This calibration is also consistent with the previous experimental calibration by Johnson and Rutherford (1989b) which was accomplished at higher temperatures, stabilizing the required buffer assemblage by use of mixed H₂O-CO₂ fluids. The latter calibration yields higher Al^tot content in hornblendes at corresponding pressures, this can be ascribed to increased edenite-exchange ( ) at elevated temperatures. The comparison of both experimental calibrations shows the important influence of the fluid composition, which affects the solidus temperature, on equilibration of hornblende in the buffering phase assemblage.     

Kanonaite, (Mn 0.76 3+ Al0.23Fe 0.02 3+ )[6]Al[5][O¦SiO4], a new mineral isotypic with andalusite

Kanonaite forms rare porphyroblasts up to 12mm long in a gahnite— Mg-chlorite — coronadite — quartz schist occurring near Kanona, Zambia. The composition is (microprobe analysis): SiO₂ 32.2, Al₂O₃ 33.9, Mn as Mn₂O₃ 32.2, Fe₂O₃ 0.66, ZnO 0.13, MgO 0.04, BaO 0.04, TiO₂ 0.01, CaO 0.01, PbO 0.01, CuO 0.01, total 99.21, corresponding to $$\left( {{\text{Mn}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.76}}}^{{\text{3 + }}} {\text{Al}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.23}}} {\text{Fe}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.015}}}^{{\text{3 + }}} } \right)_{1.005}^{\left[ 6 \right]} {\text{AL}}_{1.00}^{\left[ 5 \right]} \left[ {{\text{O}}_{{\text{1}}{\text{.00}}} |{\text{Si}}_{{\text{0}}{\text{.99}}} {\text{O}}_{{\text{4}}{\text{.00}}} } \right]$$ The mineral is greenish black, strongly pleochroic with X(∥a) yellow green, Y(∥b) bluish green, Z(∥c) deep golden yellow, biaxial positive, with 2V = 53°(3°), α = 1.702, β = 1.730, γ = 1.823. Vickers microhardness (100 gram load) ranges between 906 and 1017kp/mm². The structure is orthorhombic, isotypic with andalusite, space group Pnnm, a = 0.7953(2), b = 0.8038(2), c = 0.5619(2) nm, V = 0.3592(1) nm³, a/b = 0.9895(3), c/b = 0.6990(3), S.G.(_x) = 3.395 g/cm³, Z = 4. The strongest X-ray powder lines are (d in nm, I, hkl):0.5669, 100, 110; 0.4590, 75, 011 and 101; 0.3577, 90, 120 and 210; 0.2827, 94, 220; 0.2517, 90, 310 and 112; 0.2212, 83, 320, 122 and 212. Comparison of the intensities of 373 observed X-ray reflections with those calculated for several models of Mn³⁺-distribution indicates octahedral coordination of all or most of the manganese present. Interpretation of magnetic measurements (μ_eff = 3.15B.M. per Mn atom at 25 ° C) indirectly supports octahedral coordination of Mn³⁺. The name of the mineral is for Kanona, a town near the type locality. The name is proposed for the end member Mn^{3+ [6]}Al^[5][O¦SiO₄] and for members of the solid-solution series towards andalusite with octahedral Mn³⁺>Al. The presently described mineral may be referred to as aluminian kanonaite.     

Non-ideal Mg-Fe binary mixing in cordierite: Constraints from experimental data on Mg-Fe partitioning in garnet and cordierite and a reformulation of garnet-cordierite geothermometer

The non-ideal regular Mg-Fe binary in cordierite has been derived through multivariate linear regression of the expressionRT InK_D +(P- 1)ΔVK ₁ ⁰ , 298 along with updated subfegular mixing parameter of almandine-pyrope solution (Hackler and Wood 1989; Berman 1990). The data base used for multivariate analyses consists of published experimental data (n = 177) on Mg-Fe partitioning between garnet and cordierite in theP-T range 650–1050°C and 4–12 K bar. The non-ideality can be approximated by temperature-dependent Margules parameters. The retrieved values of ΔH_<T> ^o and ΔH_<T> ^o of exchange reaction between garnet and cordierite and enthalpy and entropy of mixing of Mg-Fe cordierite were combined with recent quaternary (Fe-Mg-Ca-Mn) mixing data in garnet to obtain the geothermometric expressions to determine temperature (T Kelvin): $$\begin{gathered} T(WH) = 6832 + 0.031(P - 1) - \{ 166(X_{Mg}^{Gt} )^2 - 506(X_{Fe}^{Gt} )^2 + 680X_{Fe}^{Gt} X_{Mg}^{Gt} + 336(X_{Ca} + X_{Mn} ) \hfill \\ (X_{Mg} - X_{Fe} )^{Gt} - 3300X_{Ca}^{Gt} - 358X_{Mn}^{Gt} \} + 954(X_{Fe} - X_{Mg} )^{Crd} /1.987\ln K_D + 3.41 + 1.5X_{Ca}^{Gt} \hfill \\ + 1.23(X_{Fe} - X_{Mg} )^{Crd} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ $$\begin{gathered} T(Br) = 6920 + 0.031(p - 1) - \{ 18(X_{Mg}^{Gt} )^2 - 296(X_{Fe}^{Gt} )^2 + 556X_{Fe}^{Gt} X_{Mg}^{Gt} - 6339X_{Ca}^{Gt} X_{Mg}^{Gt} \hfill \\ - 99(X_{Ca}^{Gt} )^2 + 4687X_{Ca}^{Gt} (X_{Mg} - X_{Fe}^{Gt} ) - 4269X_{Ca}^{Gt} X_{Fe}^{Gt} - 358X_{Mn}^{Gt} \} + 640(X_{Fe} - X_{Mg} )^{Crd} \hfill \\ + 1.90X_{Ca}^{Gt} (X_{Mg} - X_{Ca} )^{Gt} . \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$      

Olivine-liquid equilibrium

A number of experiments have been conducted in order to study the equilibria between olivine and basaltic liquids and to try and understand the conditions under which olivine will crystallize. These experiments were conducted with several basaltic compositions over a range of temperature (1150–1300° C) and oxygen fugacity (10^?0.68–10^?12 atm.) at one atmosphere total pressure. The phases in these experimental runs were analyzed with the electron microprobe and a number of empirical equations relating the composition of olivine and liquid were determined. The distribution coefficient 1 $$K_D = \frac{{(X_{{\text{FeO}}}^{{\text{Ol}}} )}}{{(X_{{\text{FeO}}}^{{\text{Liq}}} )}}\frac{{(X_{{\text{MgO}}}^{{\text{Liq}}} )}}{{(X_{{\text{MgO}}}^{{\text{Ol}}} )}}$$ relating the partioning of iron and magnesium between olivine and liquid is equal to 0.30 and is independent of temperature. This means that the composition of olivine can be used to determine the magnesium to ferrous iron ratio of the liquid from which it crystallized and conversely to predict the olivine composition which would crystallize from a liquid having a particular magnesium to ferrous iron ratio. A model (saturation surface) is presented which can be used to estimate the effective solubility of olivine in basaltic melts as a function of temperature. This model is useful in predicting the temperature at which olivine and a liquid of a particular composition can coexist at equilibrium.     

From the simplest chemical system to the natural one: garnet peridotite barometry

The available experimental data on garnet-bearing-assemblages for synthetic chemical systems (MAS, FMAS, CMAS) have been used to calibrate consistent models for the Al-solubility in orthopyroxene coexisting with garnet, on the basis of equilibrium reaction Py(opx) ? Py(gt). The alternative reaction En(opx)+MgTs(opx) ? Py(gt) is discarded as it yields larger a-posteriori uncertainties. To provide a reliable equation, directly applicable to natural garnet lherzolites, each successive synthetic-system calibration is tested against Mori and Green's (1978) natural-system reequilibration data. For the MAS system, an ideal solution model with constant ΔH°, ΔV° and ΔS° based on 12-oxygen structural formulae for aluminous pyroxenes yields the best fit (GPa, K), $${\text{25,134 + 9,941 }}P - 23.177{\text{ }}T{\text{ + }}RT{\text{ ln (}}X_{{\text{Al}}}^{TB'} {\text{) = 0}}$$ . The MAS synthetic-system calibration can be directly applied to the FMAS system by adding an empirical correction term (20,835 [X _Fe ^gt ]²) independent of either pressure and temperature. However, this correction term is not important because of the limited Fe content of mantle peridotites. When calcium is added to the MAS system, the equilibrium constant is calculated as: $$K_{{\text{CMAS}}} = {{[(1 - X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{M2} )^2 (X_{{\text{Al}}}^{TB'} )]} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{[(1 - X_{{\text{Ca}}}^{M2} )^2 (X_{{\text{Al}}}^{TB'} )]} {[(1 - X_{{\text{Ca}}}^X )^3 (X_{{\text{Al}}}^Y )^2 ]}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {[(1 - X_{{\text{Ca}}}^X )^3 (X_{{\text{Al}}}^Y )^2 ]}}$$ where M2 and TB′ are pyroxene sites and X and Y are garnet sites. Up to 5 GPa, X _Ca ^X ～ and the CMAS experimental data agree well with the MAS model, but for Yamada and Takahashi's (1983) higher pressure experiments (up to 10 GPa), this no longer holds. Indeed, the garnet solid solution does not behave ideally and an asymmetric regular solution model is needed for application to the deepest natural samples available (>7GPa). Calibration based on new high pressure data yields, $$\begin{gathered} \Delta G_{{\text{CMAS}}}^{XS} = (X_{{\text{Ca}}}^X )(1 - X_{{\text{Ca}}}^X )(0.147 - X_{{\text{Ca}}}^X ) \hfill \\ {\text{ }} \cdot {\text{(6,440,535 - 1,490,654 }}P{\text{)}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ . According to tests of the inferred solution model, the CFMAS system is a good analogue of natural systems in the pressure, temperature and composition ranges covered by the natural-system reequilibration data (up to 1,500° C and 4 GPa). Simultaneous application of this thermobarometer and of the two-pyroxene mutual solubility thermometer (Bertrand and Mercier 1985) to the phases of the garnet-peridotite xenoliths from Thaba Putsoa, Lesotho, yields a refined paleogeotherm for southern Africa strongly contrasting with previous results. The “granular” nodules yield a thermal gradient of about 8 K/km characteristic of a lithospheric-type environment, whereas the “sheared” ones show a lower gradient of about 1 K/km. This is a typical geotherm expected for a steady thermal state with an inflexion point at the depth of about 160 km corresponding to the lithosphere/asthenosphere boundary.