The influence of Al2O3 on the H2O content in periclase and ferropericlase at 25 GPa

In this paper I present results of IR spectroscopic measurements of water solubility in Al-bearing periclase and ferropericlase (Mg# = 88) synthesized at 25 GPa and 1400–2000 °C. The IR spectra of their crystals show narrow absorption peaks at 3299, 3308, and 3474 cm^?1. The calculated H₂O contents are 11–25 ppm in periclase (Al₂O₃ = 0.9–1.2 wt.%) and 14–79 ppm in ferropericlase (Al₂O₃ = 0.9–2.9 wt.%). Ferropericlase contains more H₂O and Al₂O₃ than periclase at 1800–2000 °C. I suggest that addition of Al₂O₃ does not influence the solubility of water in ferropericlase but can favor the additional incorporation of Fe₂O₃ into the structure. The incorporation of Fe³⁺ into ferropericlase increases water solubility as a result of iron reduction to Fe²⁺. It is shown that water has limited solubility in ferropericlase from mantle peridotite; therefore, ferropericlase cannot be considered an important hydrogen-bearing mineral in the lower mantle.