Pressure-induced spin transition in FeCO3-siderite studied by X-ray diffraction measurements

We have collected synchrotron X-ray diffraction patterns of FeCO₃-siderite after or in-situ laser heating at high pressures to 66 GPa. Diffraction peaks of FeCO₃ in all diffraction patterns obtained can be indexed as a trigonal cell. However, calculated cell volumes show an abrupt decrease (about 6.5%) between 47 and 50 GPa at room temperature. This abrupt change of the cell volume on FeCO₃ is possibly due to a pressure-induced spin transition of ferrous Fe (HS: high-spin → LS: low-spin). Because cell parameters obtained at high temperature and at pressures above 50 GPa suggest HS state rather than LS state, the Clapeyron slope of the HS-to-LS transition of FeCO₃ should be positive.