Olivine glass and spinel formed in a laser heated, diamond-anvil high pressure cell
Abstract
Laser-heated, diamond anvil cells have produced a major breakthrough in the understanding of the physics of the earth's interior, by making it possible to synthesize mineral phases that are stable at very high pressure. The synthesized phases are usually identified by X-ray powder diffraction techniques. Results are reported of the first local examination by transmission electron microscopy of a sample prepared by heating fayalite in a diamond-anvil cell. Three phases produced in the pressure gradient from the edge to the center of the cell have been identified: olivine glass (apparently the first case to be reported); phases corresponding to a transition zone between olivine and spinel; and spinel. The phases are similar to those found in shocked chondritic meteorites.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- November 1980
- DOI:
- 10.1038/288155a0
- Bibcode:
- 1980Natur.288..155L
- Keywords:
-
- Earth Planetary Structure;
- Laser Heating;
- Mineralogy;
- Olivine;
- Spinel;
- Diamonds;
- Geophysics;
- Glass;
- High Pressure;
- Pressure Gradients;
- X Ray Diffraction;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration