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Phase relations and formation of chromium-rich phases in the system Mg4Si4O12–Mg3Cr2Si3O12 at 10–24 GPa and 1,600 °C

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Abstract

Phase relations in the system Mg4Si4O12–Mg3Cr2Si3O12 were studied at 10–24 GPa and 1,600 °C using a high-pressure Kawai-type multi-anvil apparatus. We investigated the full range of starting compositions for the knorringite–majorite system to derive a P–X phase diagram and synthesize garnets of a wide compositional range. Samples synthesized in the pressure range 10–14 GPa contain knorringite–majorite garnet and Cr-bearing pyroxene. With increasing Cr content in the starting materials, an association of knorringite–majorite garnet and eskolaite is formed. Garnets contain a significant portion of majorite (>10 mol%) even for a pure Mg3Cr2Si3O12 starting composition. Knorringite–majorite garnets were obtained in the pressure range from 10 to 20 GPa. With increasing pressure, the phase assemblages include Cr-bearing MgSiO3 akimotoite and MgSiO3 bridgmanite, as well as MgCr2O4 with calcium titanate structure, and stishovite. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the incorporation of Cr into the structure of garnet, as well as MgSiO3 akimotoite, and bridgmanite results in an increase in their unit cell parameters. Results of the experimental high-pressure investigation of the pseudo-binary system Mg4Si4O12–Mg3Cr2Si3O12 (SiO2–MgO–Cr2O3) may be applied to the origin of high chromium phases (mostly garnet) found as inclusions in peridotitic diamonds and formed in bulk rock compositions with high Cr/Al ratios in relation to the primitive mantle.

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Abbreviations

Ak:

Akimotoite (MgSiO3 with ilmenite-type structure)

Al-Ak:

Aluminum-rich akimotoite

Al-Brd:

Aluminum-rich bridgmanite

Brd:

Bridgmanite (MgSiO3 with perovskite-type structure)

Cr-Ak:

Chromium-rich akimotoite

Cr-Brd:

Chromium-rich bridgmanite

Ct:

MgCr2O4 with calcium titanate structure

Esk:

Eskolaite (Cr2O3)

Grt:

Garnet

Knr:

Knorringite (Mg3Cr2Si3O12)

Maj:

Majorite (Mg4Si4O12)

Prp:

Pyrope (Mg3Al2Si3O12)

Px:

Pyroxene

Sti:

Stishovite

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Acknowledgments

The constructive reviews of Thomas Stachel and an anonymous referee were very helpful for improving the quality of the manuscript. We thank Elena V. Guseva for electron microprobe analyses. This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project nos. 12-05-00426, 12-05-33044, and 15-05-08261 to E.A. Sirotkina and A.V. Bobrov) and by the Grant-in-Aid for scientific Research (S) (Project No. 25220712 to T. Irifune). E.A. Sirotkina thanks Geodynamics Research Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan, for support of her visits in 2013 and 2014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Petrology, Geological Faculty, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    E. A. Sirotkina & A. V. Bobrov

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Firenze, Via La Pira 4, 50121, Florence, Italy

    L. Bindi

  3. CNR – Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Sezione di Firenze, Via La Pira 4, 50121, Florence, Italy

    L. Bindi

  4. Geodynamics Research Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan

    T. Irifune

  5. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan

    T. Irifune

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  1. E. A. Sirotkina
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  2. A. V. Bobrov
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  3. L. Bindi
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  4. T. Irifune
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Correspondence to E. A. Sirotkina.

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Communicated by Timothy L. Grove.

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Sirotkina, E.A., Bobrov, A.V., Bindi, L. et al. Phase relations and formation of chromium-rich phases in the system Mg4Si4O12–Mg3Cr2Si3O12 at 10–24 GPa and 1,600 °C. Contrib Mineral Petrol 169, 2 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-014-1097-0

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