An experimental study of Ca-(Fe,Mg) interdiffusion in silicate garnets

Ca-(Fe,Mg) interdiffusion experiments between natural single crystals of grossular (Ca_2.74Mg_0.15 Fe_0.23Al_1.76Cr_0.04Si_3.05O₁₂) and almandine (Ca_0.21Mg_0.40 Fe_2.23Mn_0.13Al_2.00Cr_0.08Si_2.99O₁₂ or Ca_0.43Mg_0.36Fe_2.11 Al_1.95Si_3.04O₁₂), were undertaken at 900–1100 °C and 30 kbar, and pressures of 15.0–32.5 kbar at 1000 °C. Samples were buffered by Fe/FeO in most cases. Diffusion profiles were determined by electron microprobe. Across the experimental couples the interdiffusion coefficients (D˜) were almost independent of composition. The diffusion rates in an unbuffered sample were significantly faster than in buffered samples. The temperature dependence of the D˜ (Ca-Fe,Mg) interdiffusion coefficients may be described by at 30 kbar and 900–1100 °C. This activation energy is marginally higher than previous experimental studies involving Ca-free garnets; the interdiffusion coefficients are higher than previous studies for Fe-Mg and Fe-Mn exchange in garnet. The pressure dependence of D˜ (Ca-Fe,Mg) at 1000 °C yielded an activation volume of 11.2 cm³ mol⁻¹, which is higher than previous results from studies involving garnet and olivine. Comparison with simulation studies suggests a vacancy mechanism for divalent ion migration in garnet, with extrinsic processes being dominant up to very high temperatures. Received: 15 December 1996 / Accepted: 3 November 1998