Experimental study of trace and rare earth elements' partitioning between immiscible liquids at the atmospheric pressure

Abstract

The distribution of elements between coexisting immiscible silicate liquids could be useful for an understanding of the evolution of lunar crust, and/or of the process of fluid inclusions in rocks because such liquids might correlate with the transportation of elements from upper mantle to crust, and crystallization differentiation. In the present study, partitioning of major, trace and rare earth elements (REEs) between immiscible liquids coexisting with liquidus zircon was determined at the atmospheric pressure and 1300 degree-C. Our analytical result for the run product at 1300 degree-C revealed that Si, Al, K, Rb, Cs and Hf are enriched in the Si-rich liquid, as compared to the Si-poor liquid.