Association Reaction in Forsterite Under Shock Compression

Abstract
Transmission electron microscopic observation of forsterite (Mg2SiO4) shocked to peak pressures of 78 to 92 gigapascals revealed that forsterite breaks down to an assemblage of MgO plus MgSiO3 glass. This strongly supports the interpretation that the high-pressure phase of forsterite under shock compression is due to the assemblage of MgSiO3 perovskite plus MgO.