CRYSTAL CHEMISTRY OF FERRIC IRON IN (MG,FE)(SI,AL)O3 MAJORITE WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TRANSITION ZONE

Abstract

Fifteen samples of (Mg,Fe)SiO3 majorite with varying Fe/Mg composition and one sample of (Mg,Fe)(Si,Al)O3 majorite were synthesized at high pressure and temperature under different conditions of oxygen fugacity using a multianvil press, and examined ex situ using X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer and optical absorption spectroscopy. The relative concentration of Fe3+ increases both with total iron content and increasing oxygen fugacity, but not with Al concentration. Optical absorption spectra indicate the presence of Fe2+-Fe3+ charge transfer, where band intensity increases with increasing Fe3+ concentration. Mossbauer data were used in conjunction with electron microprobe analyses to determine the site distribution of all cations. Both Al and Fe3+ substitute on the octahedral site, and charge balance occurs through the removal of Si. The degree of Mg/Si ordering on the octahedral sites in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 majorite, which affects both the c/a ratio and the unit cell volume, is influenced by the thermal history of the sample. The Fe3+ concentration of (Mg,Fe)(Si,Al)O3 majorite in the mantle will reflect prevailing redox conditions, which are believed to be relatively reducing in the transition zone. Exchange of material across the transition boundary to (Mg,Fe) (Si,Al)O3 perovskite would then require a mechanism to oxidize sufficient iron to satisfy crystal-chemical requirements of the lower-mantle perovskite phase.