Abstract
Phase transition behavior of two types of terrestrial tridymite; crystals from Topaz Mountain in the Thomas Range of northwestern Utah and Smith Peak in Plumas County, California; were investigated. The Topaz Mtn. samples were characterized at room temperature using optical, X-ray diffraction (Debye-Scherrer, rotation, and Laue), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. Least-squares refinement of the powder data yielded an orthorhombic cell with a = 17.072 Å, b = 9.923 Å, and c = 16.291 Å. The tridymite is designated PO-2 (nomenclature of Nukui and Nakazawa 1980). This material is complexly twinned and has severe stacking disorder parallel to [001]. Additional X-ray experiments were performed on one Plumas County crystal and four Topaz Mtn. crystals during heating from room temperature to a minimum of 320° C with one run attaining a maximum temperature of 532° C. Crystal to crystal behavior was somewhat variable suggesting kinetic barriers to transition controlled by the detailed structural state of each crystal.
The Laue results indicated that the transition behavior of these multiple twinned tridymites could be conveniently divided into two classes: discontinuous and continuous. The discontinuous diffraction effects were generally associated with major structural transitions. Continuous diffraction effects involved gradual structural distortions of the tridymite framework that occurred over discrete ranges of temperature. Upon cooling, many of the minor effects were not reversible while the major transitions were reversible with some temperature hysteresis. Comparison of initial and final diffraction patterns indicated that the starting and ending structures were very similar but not identical. From the five experiments, three distinct patterns emerged based on the major transitions observed: Type I behavior (Topaz Mtn.) characterized by three major changes at 175–187° C, 283–302° C, and 348–352° C, Type II behavior (Plumas Co.) characterized by one major transition between 283–295° C, and Type III behavior (Topaz Mtn.) characterized by one major change between 159–165° C.
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Smelik, E.A., Reeber, R.R. A study of the thermal behavior of terrestrial tridymite by continuous X-ray diffraction. Phys Chem Minerals 17, 197–206 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00201450
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00201450