Solubility of FeO in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite and the post-perovskite phase transition

Phase relations in Mg0.5Fe0.5SiO3 and Mg0.25Fe0.75SiO3 were investigated in a pressure range from 72 to 123 GPa on the basis of synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements in situ at high-pressure and -temperature in a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell (LHDAC). Results demonstrate that Mg0.5Fe0.5SiO3 perovskite is formed as a single phase at 85-108 GPa and 1800-2330 K, indicating a high solubility of FeO in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite at high pressures. Post-perovskite appears coexisting with perovskite in Mg0.5Fe0.5SiO3 above 106 GPa at 1410 K, the condition very close to the post-perovskite phase transition boundary in pure MgSiO3. The coexistence of perovskite and post-perovskite was observed to 123 GPa. In addition, post-perovskite was formed coexisting with perovskite also in Mg0.25Fe0.75SiO3 bulk composition at 106-123 GPa. In contrast to earlier experimental and theoretical studies, these results show that incorporation of FeO stabilizes perovskite at higher pressures. This could be due to a larger ionic radius of Fe2+ ion, which is incompatible with a small Mg2+ site in the post-perovskite phase. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.