Experimental investigation of the reaction forsterite + H2O ? serpentine + brucite

A new determination of the equilibrium reaction: $$\begin{gathered} 2{\text{ Mg}}_{\text{2}} {\text{SiO}}_{\text{4}} ] + 3{\text{ H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}} \rightleftharpoons {\text{1 Mg}}_{\text{3}} ({\text{OH)}}_{\text{4}} |{\text{Si}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{5}} ] + 1{\text{ Mg(OH)}}_{\text{2}} \hfill \\ \hfill \\ {\text{ forsterite serpentine brucite}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ yielded equilibrium temperatures which lie (at identical H₂O-pressures) about 60° C lower than all previously published data (Bowen and Tuttle, 1949; Yoder, 1952; Kitahara et al., 1966; Kitahara and Kennedy, 1967). It has been shown that the above authors have determined not the stable equilibrium curve but instead a metastable “synthesis boundary”. The actual (stable) equilibrium curve is located at 0,5 kb and 350° C 2,0 kb and 380° C 3,5 kb and 400° C 5,0 kb and 420° C 6,5 kb and 430° C.