Study on Al 2 O 3 content and phase stability of aluminous-CaSiO 3 perovskite at high pressure and temperature

Abstract

In order to clarify Al2O3 content and phase stability of aluminous CaSiO3-perovskite, high-pressure and high-temperature transformations of Ca3Al2Si3O12 garnet (grossular) were studied using a MA8-type high-pressure apparatus combined with synchrotron radiation. Recovered samples were examined by analytical transmission electron microscopy. At pressures of 23–25 GPa and temperatures of 1000–1600 K, grossular garnet decomposed into a mixture of aluminum-bearing Ca-perovskite and corundum, although a metastable perovskite with grossular composition was formed when the heating duration was not long enough at 1000 K. On release of pressure, this aluminum-bearing CaSiO3-perovskite transformed to the “LiNbO3-type phase” and/or amorphous phase depending on its Al2O3 content. The structure of this LiNbO3-type phase is very similar to that of LiNbO3 but is not identical. CaSiO3-perovskite with 8 to 25 mol% Al2O3 was quenched to alternating lamellae of amorphous layer and LiNbO3-type phase. On the other hand, a quenched product from CaSiO3-perovskite with less than 6 mol% consisted only of amorphous phase. Most of the inconsistencies amongst previous studies could be explained by the formation of perovskite with grossular composition, amorphous phase, and the LiNbO3-type phase.