X-ray diffraction study of arsenopyrite at high pressure

Abstract

The high-pressure X-ray diffraction study of a natural arsenopyrite was investigated up to 28.2 GPa using in situ angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction and a diamond anvil cell at National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory. The 16:3:1 methanol–ethanol–water mixture was used as a pressure-transmitting medium. Pressures were measured using the ruby-fluorescence method. No phase change has been observed up to 28.2 GPa. The isothermal equation of state (EOS) was determined. The values of K0, and K′0 refined with a third-order Birch–Murnaghan EOS are K0 = 123(9) GPa, and K′0 = 5.2(8). Furthermore, we confirm that the linear compressibilities (β) along a, b and c directions of arsenopyrite is elastically isotropic (βa = 6.82 × 10−4, βb = 6.17 × 10−4 and βc = 6.57 × 10−4 GPa−1).