Stability region of the liebermannite-lingunite solid solution

Abstract:

Aluminosilicate hollandite, with the chemical formula of (K,Na)AlSi₃O₈, is a potential host mineral of K and Na in the deep Earth [1,2]. The Na hollandite end member is called lingunite, and the K hollandite end member was named liebermannite recently. Phase relations in the system KAlSi₃O₈-NaAlSi₃O₈ under conditions of the Earth mantle transition zone and uppermost lower mantle [3,4] are essential to understanding the behavior of the liebermannite-lingunite solid solution under high pressure and high temperature, however, it is still not clear whether or not the end members can form complete solid solutions with the hollandite structure under some conditions. Previous high pressure experiments obtained the K hollandite with the limited Na content up to 50 mol % [3,4], while the Na-rich hollandite with the Na content of about 80 mol % was discovered in some meteorites [5,6]. Here we report our successful synthesis of the Na-rich hollandite with the Na content of 78 mol % at 22 GPa, 2273 K, the same condition under which the Na-rich hollandite found in the meteorite was inferred to be formed during the shock event [5]. Phase relations around 22 GPa at 1873 and 2273 K determined by our experiments indicate the solubility of NaAlSi₃O₈ in K hollandite is sensitive to both pressure and temperature, especially around the pressure corresponding to the dissociation of jadeite into the calcium ferrite type NaAlSiO₄and stishovite, and there may be a stability region for the Na hollandite end member at temperatures slightly higher than 2273 K. Our improved phase relations provide a reasonable access to estimate the composition of hollandite in the Earth’s interior and a supportive evidence to interpret the formation of the Na-rich hollandite found in meteorites via phase equilibria.

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