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 Mössbauer 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. Mössbauer 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.