High-Pressure Decomposition of Some Titanate Spinels

Abstract
The stability of titanate spinels has been investigated at high pressures and high temperatures with the aid of tetrahedral anvil‐type and piston‐cylinder‐type high‐pressure apparatus. Decomposition of titanate spinels M2TiO4 (M=Mg2+, Fe2+, and Co2+) to MTiO3 with ilmenite structure plus MO with sodium chloride structure has been found to occur. Equilibrium phase boundaries of these reactions are determined as P(kbar)=−18+0.019T(°C) for Mg2TiO4→MgTiO3+MgO; P(kbar)=11+0.025T(°C) for Fe2TiO4→FeTiO3+``FeO''; and P(kbar)=−9+0.035T(°C) for Co2TiO4→CoTiO3+CoO. It is suggested that similar decomposition of silicate spinels may occur in a lower mantle of the earth.

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