Fe4O5 and its solid solutions in several simple systems

Experiments at high pressures and temperatures reveal the stability of a Fe₄O₅-type structured phase in several simple chemical systems. On the one hand, the Fe₄O₅ end-member is stable in the presence of SiO₂-rich phases, including stishovite, but contains ≤0.01 Si cations per formula unit. This indicates that Si is essentially excluded from this phase. On the other hand, the Fe₄O₅ phase can form solid solutions with Mg and Cr and can coexist with silicate phases at the high P–T conditions expected in the transition zone of the mantle (i.e. >~9 GPa). It can coexist with both wadsleyite and Mg-rich ringwoodite and can contain at least 25 mol% Mg₂Fe₂O₅ component. The Fe₄O₅ phase always contains the least amount of Mg in any given mineral assemblage. Cr-bearing Fe₄O₅ has been synthesised with up to 46 mol% Fe₂Cr₂O₅ component and can coexist with spinel and/or hematite-eskolatite solid solutions. Substitution of Mg and Cr for Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺, respectively, leads to variations in Fe³⁺/∑Fe from the ideal value of 0.5 for the Fe₄O₅ end-member composition, which can influence its redox stability. These cations also have contrasting effects on the unit-cell parameters, which indicate that they substitute into different sites. This initial study suggests that Fe₄O₅-type structured phases may be stable over a range of P–T–fO₂ conditions and bulk compositions, and can be important in understanding the post-spinel phase relations in a number of chemical systems relevant to the Earth’s transition zone. Thus, the presence of even small amounts of Fe³⁺ could alter the expected phase relations in peridotitic bulk compositions by stabilising this additional phase.