Structural states of Mg-cordierite II: Landau theory

Mg-cordierite undergoes a ferroelestic phase transitionP6/mmc-Cccm. The order parameterQ is proportional to the spontaneous strain as reflected by changes of the lattice parametersa andb during the phase transition. The order parameter,Q _od, which describes the Al, Si ordering, isnot directly involved in the phase transition and only “triggers” the structural collapse. Landau theory predicts that cordierite can exist in stable or metastable states with hexagonal, orthorhombic or monoclinic symmetry. Hexagonal cordierite can develop modulated structures which have been found by Putnis et al. (1987). The phase transition is predicted to be accompanied by singularities of the elastic constantsC ₁₁,C ₂₂ andC ₁₂ leading to an elastic softening of the crystal structure.