Phase Equilibria in the System MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O: Chlorites and Associated Minerals

TLDR: In this article, a simplified synthetic system of MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O was investigated under conditions of 1 and 2 Kb water pressure and temperatures between 300 and 700°C.

Abstract: Twenty-six compositions in the system MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O were investigated under conditions of 1 and 2 Kb water pressure and temperatures between 300 and 700°C. The solid solution for 7 A and 14 A chlorites has been delimited as well as that of the expanding phases (tri- and dioctahedral montmorillonites and expanding chlorites). Negative slopes were found for the transformation montmorillonite → expanding chlorite, and expanding chlorite → chlorite+quartz and a positive slope for 7A → 4 A transformation. The relative positions of the reactions chlorite+quartz → cordierite+talc, chlorite+andalusite → cordierite and chlorite+corundum → cordierite+spinel are located between 500 and 65°C. Cell dimensions of the synthetic chlorites can be correlated with their chemical composition. Solid solution in synthetic minerals compares well with 325 analysis of natural minerals from the literature, indicating that the chemiographic relations between phases in the simplified synthetic system are applicable to natural mineral assemblages. The phase relations indicate that at low temperature the 7A aluminous chlorite is not stable with quartz or another silica phase.