The possible reasons for the absence of condensed phosphates in nature

Abstract

Experiments to study the possible reasons for the absence of condensed phosphates in nature show that under hydrothermal conditions atP _H2O>6 atm, the crystallization of condensed phosphates ceases and instead only simple orthophosphates crystallize irrespective of the temperature of the system. Similarly, even an increase in the concentration of alkali and alkaline earth elements in the system leads to decondensation of phosphates. It is well known that magmatic or postmagmatic processes of mineral formation are always accompanied by a certain amount of H₂O and occur in the presence of many types of metals. This leads to the formation of only orthophosphates and not to condensed phosphates in nature.