Uvarovite: Stability of uvarovite-grossularite solid solution at low pressure

Uvarovite (Ca₃Cr₂Si₃O₁₂) forms a complete solid solution series with grossularite (Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂) below 855 ± 5 ° C at a total pressure of 1 atm. Pure uvarovite decomposes to pwo (CaSiO₃) + esk (Cr₂O₃) at 1385 ± 10 ° C. The incorporation of about 5 wt-% of Ca₃Al₂ Si₃O₁₂ component in the uvarovite structure raises the thermal stability of the garnet_ss to 1410 ± 5 ° C, and uvarovite₉₅ grossularite₀₅ melts incongruently to pwo (CaSiO₃) + coresk_ss ((Al, Cr)₂O₃) + L. Pure grossularite decomposes to wo (CaSi0₃) + geh (Ca₂Al₂SiO₇) + and (CaAl₂Si₂O₈) at 855 ± 5 ° C, grossularite thermal stability is increased by incorporation of Ca₃Cr₂Si₃O₁₂ component by 530 ° C. At 1280±5 ° C coresk_ss + L react to gar_ss + geh + an defining an invariant tequilibrium of the CaO-Cr₂O₃-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ quaternary system. Liquid reacts to gar_ss + pwo + geh + an at 1263 ±5 ° C terminating univariant and divariant liquid relations occurring along the join Ca₃Cr₂Si₃O₁₂-Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂. The unit-cell parameter for uvarovite is 11.996(2) Å, the refractive index 1.865(3). The substitution of Cr by Al decreases a and n almost linearly toward the grossularite end member which displays a unit-cell parameter of 11.848(2) Å and a refractive index of 1.732 (1).