P-T stability of the lazulite-scorzalite solid-solution series

Abstract

The stability of members of the lazulite-scorzalite solid-solution series, (Mg,Fe)Al2 (OH)2(PO4)2, was investigated as a function of T (505 to 675 °C), P (0.1 to 0.3 GPa) and Fe/Mg ratio in hydrothermal synthesis experiments. The oxygen fugacity was controlled by means of the Ni/NiO buffer. It was found that starting from end-member lazulite the stability of the solid-solution members strongly decreases with increasing content of scorzalite component. At 0.2 GPa pure lazulite decomposes at about 660 °C whereas at the same pressure a solid-solution with 80% of lazulite component is only stable up to 590 °C under the oxygen fugacity of the Ni/NiO buffer. The members of the lazulite-scorzalite solid-solution series with limiting composition coexist with an Fe-richer member of the (Mg,Fe)Al(PO4)O series and berlinite. The mixing behaviour of both the lazulite-scorzalite and the (Mg,Fe)Al(PO4)O solid-solution series disregarding small amounts of Fe3+ is interpreted in terms of a model on the basis of a simple mixture for the lazulite-scorzalite system and of an ideal mixture for the (Mg,Fe)Al(PO4)O series. With this model the interaction parameter \(\) which expresses the non-ideality of the lazulite-scorzalite solid-solution series amounts to \(\).