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Title: In Situ Observations of Phase Changes in Shock Compressed Forsterite

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL077996· OSTI ID:1493746
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [2];  [4];  [2];  [3];  [5]; ORCiD logo [6]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  3. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
  4. Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
  5. Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Ithaca, NY (United States)
  6. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
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Shockwave data on mineral–forming compounds such as Mg2SiO4 are essential for understanding the interiors of Earth and other planets, but correct interpretation of these data depends on knowing the phase assemblage being probed at high pressure. Furthermore, direct observations of the phase or phases making up the measured states along the forsterite Hugoniot are essential to assess whether kinetic factors inhibit the achievement of the expected equilibrium, phase–separated assemblage. Previous shock recovery experiments on forsterite, which has orthorhombic space group Pbnm, show discrepant results as to whether forsterite undergoes segregation into its equilibrium phase assemblage of compositionally distinct structures upon shock compression. Here we present the results of plate impact experiments on polycrystalline forsterite conducted at the Dynamic Compression Sector of the Advanced Photon Source. In situ X–ray diffraction measurements were used to probe the crystal structure(s) in the shock state and to investigate potential decomposition into periclase and bridgmanite. In contrast to previous interpretations of the forsterite shock Hugoniot, we find that forsterite does not decompose but instead reaches the forsterite III structure, which is a metastable structure of Mg2SiO4 with orthorhombic space group Cmc21.

Research Organization:
Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States). Inst. for Shock Physics
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0002442
OSTI ID:
1493746
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 45, Issue 16; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 6 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (29)

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Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
forsterite
shock compression
x‐ray diffraction