Effects of hydration on the structure and compressibility of wadsleyite, β-(Mg2SiO4)

Christopher M. Holl*, Joseph R. Smyth, Steven D. Jacobsen, Daniel J. Frost

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

A suite of pure magnesian wadsleyite (β-Mg2SiO4) samples containing 0.005,0.38, 1.18, and 1.66 wt% H2O was studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to determine the effects of hydration on cation ordering and crystal symmetry. Separate compressibility experiments were carried out to 9.6 GPa to determine the effects of hydration on isothermal equations of state. Crystal-structure refinements at ambient conditions show cation vacancies order onto the M3 site. The most hydrous sample (1.6 wt% H2O) displayed monoclinic symmetry with β = 90.090(7)°, whereas the samples with lower content were statistically orthorhombic. The density of wadsleyite decreases with increasing water content at STP according to the empirical relation, ρ = 3.470(2)-0.046(2) CH2og/cm3 (with CH2o in wt% H2O). Bulk moduli and pressure derivatives of wadsleyite are KTO = 173(5) GPa, K01 = 4.1(15) for 0.005 wt% H2O; KTO = 161(4) GPa, K01 = 5.4(11) for 0.38 wt% H2O; KTO = 158(4) GPa, K01 = 4.2(9) for 1.18 wt% H2O; and KTO = 154(4) GPa, K01 = 4.9(11) for 1.66 wt% H2O. Variation of the bulk modulus of wadsleyite with water content is non-linear, which may be attributable to softening of the structure by ordering of vacancies onto two non-equivalent M3 sites (M3a and M3b) and an accompanying dilution of orthorhombic symmetry.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)598-607
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican Mineralogist
Volume93
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2008

Keywords

  • Bulk modulus
  • Equation of state
  • Mantle Transition Zone
  • Nominally anhydrous minerals
  • Wadsleyite

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • Geochemistry and Petrology

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