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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Ferric/ferrous determinations in synthetic biotite

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The relationships between ferric iron content and the P-T-fH₂ conditions of formation were examined for two biotite compositions: annite (K₂Fe₅Al₄Si₅O₂₀(OH)₄) and siderophyllite (K₂Fe₆Al₂Si₆O₂₀(OH)₄). The synthesized phases were annealed at fixed hydrogen fugacities using both the solid oxygen buffering technique of Eugster (1957) and the H₂ buffering technique of Shaw (1967). Resulting hydrogen fugacities ranged from 0.004 bars (at T = 400°C, P<sub>T</sub> = 2 kb) to 51 bars (at T = 750°C, P<sub>T</sub> = 1 kb). Ferrous iron contents of the annealed biotites were determined by wet chemical analyses. Total iron was determined by microprobe analyses to be equal to the stoichiometric values. The data confirm the predictions of Hazen and Wones (1972, 1978) that: 1) There is a structural limit imposed upon the Fe³⁺ content of annite due to the misfit between the octahedral and tetrahedral layers. This misfit requires a minimum of 11% Fe³⁺ in annite. 2) The steric misfit in annite can be corrected by a substitution of Al<sup>vi</sup> + Al<sup>iv</sup> for Fe<sup>vi</sup> + Si<sup>iv</sup>, so that there is no Fe³⁺ in siderophyllite at high hydrogen fugacities. A model relating Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ ratios, fH₂, and T is proposed. The model accounts for the amount of Fe³⁺ needed to correct the steric misfit in annite and allows for variation in Fe, Al, and Mg contents among biotites. A simple oxidation-reduction reaction is used to relate changes in the non-steric ferric iron to hydrogen fugacity and temperatures for the Fe-Mg-Al biotites. The equilibrium constant for the reaction can be expressed as: (1) log K= 3607.2/T - 4.47 where, depending on composition, K is expressed as follows and R is a constant proportional to the U structurally required iron. (2) Al<sup>vi</sup>/0.3 + Mg/0.72 ≥ 1, K = Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ fH₂<sup>1/2</sup> (Al<sup>vi</sup> + Mg ≥ 1) (3) Al<sup>vi</sup>/0.3 + Mg/0.72 > 1, K = Fe³)/Fe²⁺ - (1-Al<sup>vi</sup>-MG) fH₂<sup>1/2</sup> (Al<sup>vi</sup> + Mg < 1) (4) Al<sup>vi</sup>/0.3 + Mg/0.72 < 1, K = [Fe³⁺/(Fe²⁺ - (1-Al<sup>vi</sup>-MG)) -0.185] fH₂<sup>1/2</sup> (Al<sup>vi</sup> + Mg < 1)

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Geological Sciences
Department dc:contributor.department
Geological Sciences
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Year dc:date.issued
1984

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Partin, Elizabeth

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en_US

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10919/53829
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/53829

Chain of custody

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Virginia Tech
Base URL
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Last updated
2026-07-22
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citation

Partin, Elizabeth. Ferric/ferrous determinations in synthetic biotite. masters thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1984. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/53829