Sequential high-pressure transformations of FeGeO₃ high-P clinopyroxene (C 2 /c) at temperatures up to 365 ¯C

Abstract

 In order to elucidate high-pressure transformations of high-P clinopyroxene (C2/c) at kinetically low temperature where atoms are not thermally activated, the transformation processes of FeGeO₃ clinopyroxene (C2/c) have been investigated at pressures up to 20 GPa and 365 °C by powder X-ray diffraction using a synchrotron radiation source and TEM observation. With increasing pressure up to 20 GPa at room temperature, FeGeO₃ high-P clinopyroxene (C2/c) reversibly transforms into a new high-pressure phase, FeGeO₃(II). On increasing the temperature up to 365 °C, this phase rapidly transforms into FeGeO₃ ilmenite within about 2 h. Intensity analysis of the X-ray diffraction pattern reveals that the high-pressure phase of FeGeO₃(II) has an intermediate structure between clinopyroxene and ilmenite: the cation arrangement is similar to that of clinopyroxene and the oxygen arrangement is similar to that of ilmenite. The comparison of the crystal structures of these polymorphs suggests that clinopyroxene to FeGeO₃(II) and FeGeO₃(II) to ilmenite transformations are performed by the slight deformation of the oxygen packing and the short-range movement of cations, respectively. It is shown that this high-P clinopyroxene transforms into ilmenite through a low-activation energy path under the low-temperature condition.