The high-temperature P2(1)/c-C2/c phase transition in Fe-free pyroxene (Ca0.15Mg1.85Si2O6) : structural and thermodynamic behavior

A high-temperature in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study was performed from room T to 1150 °Con two crystals of Fe-free P2(1)/c clinopyroxenes of composition Ca0.15Mg1.85Si2O6 [cell parameters at room T: a = 9.651(2) Angstrom, b = 8.846(2) Angstrom, c = 5.202(1) Angstrom, beta = 108.38(2)degrees, V = 421.4 (2) Angstrom(3)] synthesized by isothermal annealing for 624 h at T = 1370 °C, P = 1 atm. A First order P2(1)/c-C2/c phase transition was found slightly below 1000 degreesC [T-c = 926(39) °C]. The transition was revealed by discontinuous changes in intensities and cell parameters. Prolonged heating at high temperature induced a non-reversible increase in the transition temperature up to more than 1150 °C, without apparent changes in the order of the phase transition. Coupling with strain due to incipient exsolution in a formerly almost defect-free sample is suggested to be responsible for increase in T-c. TEM observations of a sample from the same starting material after further annealing for 72 h at T = 1050 °C, P = 1 atm are consistent with the proposed incipient exsolution model. Annealing was found to induce the formation of a mottled texture oriented parallel to (101). Results from structure refinement of data collected below the transition at T = 25, 500, 650, 800, and 1000 °C showed only minor changes in the chain configurations, which tire highly differentiated up to 1000 °C, confirming the strong First-order character of the transition.