Thermochemistry of forsterite-fayalite olivine solutions

The enthalpies of solution of synthetic Mg₂SiO₄-Fe₂SiO₄ olivine solid solutions have been measured in Pb₂B₂O₅ melt at 970 K. The heat of solution of forsterite was found to be 15.62 ± 0.3 kcal mol^-1 and that of fayalite 9.39 ± 0.14 kcal mol^-1. Solid solutions between these end-members exhibit small positive deviations from mixing ideality, asymmetric towards the Fe end-member. In terms of the sub-regular solution model, excess enthalpies of intermediate olivine are adequately represented by the equation H^xs = 2(1000 + 1000X_Fe) X_FeX_Mg. The enthalpies of solution at 970 K are consistent with high temperature phase equilibrium measurements of activity-composition relationships in the olivine series. Excess entropy terms are not needed to relate the phase equilibrium data to the calorimetric data presented here. The enthalpy of solution of FeSiO₃ ferrosilite at 970 K was found to be 4.36 ± 0.10 kcal mol^-1. This value, when taken together with calorimetric measurements on fayalite and quartz, is consistent with phase equilibrium investigations of the reaction: 2FeSiO₃ = Fe₂SiO₄ + SiO₂ Ferrosilite Fayalite Quartz. These provide a check on the internal consistency of the calorimetric data presented here.