Publication Date:
1970-09-01
Description:
SummaryThe X-ray powder diffraction pattern of synthetic anorthite crystallized from a CaO-Al2O3-SiO2 glass having the anorthite (1:1:2) molar ratio is identical with that reported in the literature, and also with that of a natural Japanese anorthite specimen. Increasing the CaO or SiO2 content of the parent glasses used for crystallization studies has no measurable effect on that portion of the powder pattern attributable to anorthite. However, glasses containing an excess of Al2O3 ranging from 5 to 10 mol % gave, after crystallization at temperatures below c. 1150 °C distinctively different powder pattern. Several powder reflections that are normally strong, such as , etc., were found to be virtually absent. Moreover, the chemical excess of Al2O3 did not appear as a separate alumina-bearing phase. Upon reheating these anorthites to temperatures above 1200–50 °C or upon crystallizing a fresh portion of alumina-rich glass above 1200-50 °C, only the normal anorthite powder X-ray pattern was obtained; the pattern also contained some reflections due to corundum (α-Al2O3). Examination of the anomalous low-temperature anorthite by electron diffraction shows that the apparent absence of some powder lines is caused by both albite and Carlsbad twinning, which occur on an intimate scale not exceeding a few unit cell repeats. From the unique manner of its occurrence, the twinning is believed to be associated with the inclusion of an excess of Al3+ in the anorthite.
Print ISSN:
0026-461X
Electronic ISSN:
1471-8022
Topics:
Geosciences
