SINGLE-CRYSTAL ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF DENSE HYDROUS MAGNESIUM SILICATE PHASE A

Abstract

The single-crystal elastic properties of phase A have been investigated by Brillouin spectroscopy at ambient conditions. The Voigt-Reuss-Hill average for the adiabatic bulk and shear moduli are Ks = 106(1) GPa and μ = 61(1) GPa respectively. The present acoustic measurements resolve discrepancies between the bulk moduli obtained in earlier compression studies. The axial compressibility of the hexagonal (P63) structure is highly anisotropic with the c-axis, which is perpendicular to the distorted close-packed layers, approximately 21% stiffer than the α-axis, in agreement with previous compression studies. The hydration of forsterite to phase A decreases the bulk and shear moduli by about 18 and 21%, respectively, while both compressional Vp and shear Vs wave velocities decrease by about 7%. These results suggest that water could be identified seismologically if phase A is present in abundance in cold subducted slabs.