Raman spectra from the Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs at high pressures and room temperature

Abstract

Raman spectra of the three Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs; andalusite, sillimanite and kyanite were recorded as a function of pressure at room temperature. All the Raman active bands which could be observed from the high-pressure cell showed a linear pressure dependence for each of the three Al₂SiO₅ polymorphs and no phase changes were observed over the pressure ranges used in this study. In andalusite and to a lesser extent in sillimanite, vibrations which could be correlated with internal motions of the SiO₄ tetrahedra were generally well separated from the lattice modes and showed a greater pressure dependence than that observed for other modes. The distinct pressure dependence of the internal SiO₄ modes is less evident in kyanite, probably due to the lack of continuous tetrahedral chains and the fact that the rigid SiO₄ tetrahedra now form an integral part of the structural network. At ambient pressure, kyanite also exhibits two fluorescence bands at 705 and 706.2 nm which are due to small amounts of Cr³⁺ in the kyanite crystals. These fluorescence bands showed a non-linear frequency shift as pressure was increased.