A STUDY OF THE POLYMORPHIC TRANSFORMATIONS IN CO2SIO4

The olivine-beta phase transformation in Co2SiO4 has been studied in a large-volume high-pressure apparatus (USSA-2000). The experimental conditions straddle the univariant phase boundaries due to the presence of a substantial temperature gradient (150-200-degrees-C over the 3-mm length of the sample). At conditions close to equilibrium, the transformation mechanism is one of limited nucleation with rapid growth of large crystals of the beta phase. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis shows that the cation stacking faults in Co2SiO4-spinel are identical to those seen in numerous spinels. The 010 faults in beta-Co2SiO4 are found to be identical to those seen in beta-(Mg,Fe)2SiO4 found in shocked veins in meteorites.