Olivine Group

(A2+)2SiO4
 Olivine End-Members
• Forsterite Mg2SiO4
• Fayalite Fe2SiO4
• Tephroite Mn2SiO4
• Liebenbergite Ni2SiO4
• Co-olivine Co2SiO4
• Ca-olivine Ca2SiO4
• Monticellite CaMgSiO4
• Kirschsteinite CaFeSiO4
• Glaucochroite CaMnSiO4
 Olivine Occurrences
• Forsterite - Fayalite
– Fo90 Olivine is major mineral of upper mantle
– Minor phase in basalt and gabbro
– Fayalite is secondary in silicic volcanics
• Monticellite accessory in mantle nudules
• Tephroite and glaucochroite
– silicic volcanics and Mn skarns
• Liebenbergite secondary in Ni deposits
Olivine Nodules, San Carlos
Gabbro, Skaergaard
Olivine in Gabbro
Olivine Structure
 Olivine Structure
• Orthorhombic Pbnm
• a = 4.7 - 5.1Å
• b = 10.1 - 11.2Å
• c = 5.9 - 7.8Å
• Z=4
 Olivine Structure
• M1
– Pt sym = -1 @ (0, 0, 0)
• M2
– Pt symm = m @ ( x, y, 1/4)
• Si
– Pt symm = m @ ( x, y, 1/4)
• O1, O2
– Pt symm = m @ ( x, y, 1/4)
• O3
– Pt symm = 1 @ ( x, y, z)
 Olivine M1

• M1 is at origin
• Smaller M site
• More distorted in angles
• Less distorted in distances
• Mg, Fe olivines are disordered
• Ni prefers M1
 Olivine M2
• On mirror at (x, y, 1/4)
• Larger M site
• Less distorted in angles
• More distorted in distances
• Mg, Fe olivines are disordered
• Ca, Mn prefer M2
 Olivine Chemistry
• Mantle olivines are Fo94 - Fo86
• Minor elements are divalent
cations and H
– Ni (M1) up to 0.1 wt % NiO
– Mn (M2) up to 0.1 wt% MnO
– Ca (M2) up to 0.1 wt% CaO
• Very low in mono- and tri-valent
cations
• Minor P in meteoritic Olivine
Olivine Stability
 


Olivine Thermal Expansion
End-Member Forsterite Fayalite Liebenbergite Monticellite Glaucochroite Chrysoberyl
Formula Mg2SiO4 Fe2SiO4 Ni2SiO4 CaMg0.93Fe0.07SiO4 Ca0.98Mn0.87Mg0.10SiO4 Al2BeO4
Sample Synthetic Synthetic Synthetic Natural Natural Natural
T range 23-1600ºC 20-900ºC 25-900ºC 25-795ºC 25-800ºC 25-690ºC
Unit cell
V (x 10-5 K-1) 4.36 3.19 3.44 2.97 3.17 2.39
a (x 10-5 K-1) 1.12 0.99 1.19 1.01 1.05 0.74
b (x 10-5 K-1) 1.67 0.95 1.11 0.99 1.00 0.85
c (x 10-5 K-1) 1.46 1.19 1.12 1.13 1.09 0.83
Polyhedral Volumes (x 10-5 K-1)
M1 4.32 2.88 4.19 4.68 4.55 2.25
M2 5.07 4.51 3.68 3.62 4.01 3.89
T 0 -1.17 0.36 -1.23 -2.13 2.57
NPV 4.40 3.37 3.33 3.20 2.81 1.99
Reference Takeuchi et al. Smyth (1975) Lager & Meagher Lager & Meagher Lager & Meagher Hazen and Finger
(1984) (1978) (1978) (1978) (1987)
 Olivine Compression

End-member Forsterite Forsterite Fayalite Fayalite Monticellite Chrysoberyl

Formula Mg2SiO4 Mg2SiO4 Fe2SiO4 Fe1..94Mn0.11Mg0.04SiO4 Ca0.99Mg0.91Fe0.09SiO4 Al2BeO4 LiScSiO4
Sample Synthetic Synthetic Synthetic Natural Natural Natural synthetic
Pmax (GPa) 5.0 14.9 4.2 14.0 6.2 6.25 5.6
KT0 (GPa) 132 123 113 132 113 242 118
K’ 4.0 (fixed) 4.3 4 (fixed) 4 (fixed) 4 (fixed) 4 (fixed) 4 (fixed)
Axial Compressions (10-3 GPa-1)
a 1.6 1.5 0.8 1.2 1.96 1.09 2.70
b 4.3 2.8 5.8 4.0 3.62 1.47 2.80
c 0.8 2.7 1.4 1.3 2.05 1.32 2.61
Site bulk moduli (GPa)
M1 120 140 130 150 180 84
M2 100 130 130 110 300 204
Si >550 190 >500 >400 >300 300 315
Reference Hazen (1976) Kudoh & Hazen (1977) Kudoh & Takeda (1986) Sharp et al. (1987) Hazen (1987) Hazen et al.
Takeuchi (1985) (1996)
 Hydration of Olivine
• Unit Cell parameters and complete crystal structure
refinements. (Hydrous olivine composition)
– Fo 100: Pure Synthetic Forsterite
– SC: San Carlos olivine (Fo91)
– CS San Carlos + H2O 1 GPa @ 1100º
– SS0001: 12 GPa @ 1200 ºC (Wadsleyite + Olivine)
– SS0003: 12 GPa @ 1400 ºC (Olivine only)
– SS0004: 12 GPa @ 1600 ºC (Olivine only)
 Cell Volume vs Fo#

292.5

SC
Unit Cell Volume (Å^3)

292

291.5 CS SS0004
SS0003
291
SS0001
290.5

Fo100
290
90 92 94 96 98 100
Fo#
 M2 Vol vs Mg Occupancy

12.52
12.51 SC
12.5
CS
M2 Volume (Å^3)

12.49
12.48 SS0004
SS0003
12.47
12.46
SS0001
12.45
12.44
12.43 Fo100
90 92 94 96 98 100
Fo #