Synthetic high-pressure micas compositionally intermediate between the dioctahedral and trioctahedral mica series

Intermediate-composition micas with octahedral occupancy ≳2.5 have been crystallized experimentally from natural phengite, 50% phengite+50% biotite, and synthetic basalt compositions in the pressure range 20-35 kb and temperatures of 800-1,000° C. Their compositions suggest a complete range of micas with octahedral occupancy between 3.0 and 2.5, but a very restricted range between 2.0 and 2.5. These 2.5-octahedral micas lie close to the new mica series proposed by Seifert and Schreyer (1965, 1971), with one end-member composition of K Mg_2.5 (Si₄O₁₀) (OH₂) which is extended by the present results into alumina-bearing members of the series (e. g. K Mg_1.5 Al_1.0 (Si₃Al_1.0O₁₀) (OH)₂). However, the possibility of interlayering of dioctahedral and trioctahedral micas to give an apparently intermediate composition cannot be ruled out. X-ray powder diffraction data on the critical 060 reflection for the phengite mix suggest a transitional change from a single phengite field, through a 2-phase phengite - 2.5-octahedral mica field to a single phase 2.5-octahedral mica field. Natural micas of similar composition have not so far been identified, due probably to the unlikelihood of obtaining a mineralogical record of an appropriate composition at the restricted pressure and temperature conditions apparently needed to stabilize the 2.5-octahedral mica phase. Nevertheless, such a phase may have an important role in mineral assemblages and melting reactions in the deep continental crust, subducted oceanic crust and in the upper mantle; evidence of its existence may be removed by later, lower-pressure reactions.