Static compression of the hydrous magnesium silicate phase D to 30 GPa at room temperature

Phase D is a dense hydrous magnesium silicate (ideal formula MgSi₂H₂O₆) which contains silicon cations exclusively in octahedral coordination. Measurements of the unit cell parameters of phase D were made to pressures of 30 GPa using a diamond anvil cell and employing synchrotron X-ray diffraction. A neon pressure medium was used. Using a third order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state the isothermal bulk modulus of phase D was determined as 166(±3) GPa with K′ equal to 4.1(±0.3). The compression of phase D is anisotropic with the c-axis twice as compressible as the a-axis. Above 20 GPa, however, the c/a ratio becomes pressure independent. Received: 29 July 1998/ Revised, accepted: 5 August 1998