Experimental Reversal of the Na-K Exchange Reaction Between Muscovite-Paragonite Crystalline Solutions and a 2 Molal Aqueous (Na,K)Cl Fluid

Single-phase 2M₁ muscovite-paragonite crystalline solutionsin the range 0?00–0?10 and 0?70–1?00 X_ms have beensynthesized by hydrothermal treatment of gels of appropriatecompositions at 600–700?C, and 7 to 18 kb P_H2O. The molarvolumes of these micas may be expressed as V(J/b?mol) = 13?1845+1?463X_ms+0?0160 X_ms²–0?1679 X_ms³ (?0?005), which translateto a substantial positive excess molar volume of mixing. Na-K ion exchange experiments between presynthesized 2M₁ micacrystalline solutions and 2 molal aqueous (Na,K)Cl fluids failedto proceed to completion despite 98 day runs at 500–600?C,6 kb P_total. Results of analogous exchange experiments provedencouraging however, when a much finer-grained 1M mica was usedas starting material. Applying the tie line rotation technique,reversal of ion exchange experiments could be achieved in the2-phase fields, not, however, in the 3-phase field of the ms-pg-NaCl-KClreciprocal ternary. Using gels as starting material, reversalexperiments were eventually successful both in the 2-phase andthe 3-phase fields; the results of reversal experiments withinthe two-phase fields being identical to those obtained earlierusing 1M micas. Four isobaric-isothermal sections through the ms-pg-NaCl-KClternary were reversibly determined at 450?C/5 kb, 550?C/6 kb,550?C/15 kb, and 620?C/7 kb. At 450?C, the coexisting mica compositionsin the 3-phase field (2 micas plus 1 fluid) are 0?10 and 0?77X_ms, at 550?C they are 0?10 and 0?60 X_ms, and finally, at 620?Cthese are 0?12 and 0?51 X_ms. To the extent that internal equilibriumwas accomplished between the coexisting micas, these data wouldindicate a wide solvus at 450?C, narrowing gradually with increasingtemperature to 620?C. The critical temperature will be wellin excess of 620?C, although the mica at the critical conditionwill prove to be metastable with respect to the assemblage alkalifeldspars+corundum+H₂O. The companion paper by Chatterjee & Flux (1986) presentsa thermodynamic analysis of the above experimental data.