The join MgSiO
3-MgAl
2SiO
6 was studied with the special reference to the solubility of Al
2O
3 in enstatite, above 1300°C. MgAl
2SiO
6 is incorporated in enstatite as much as 3.5wt.% (1.75wt. % Al
2O
3) at atmospheric pressure. At subsolidus temperatures the phase assemblage protoenstatite
ss+forsterite was confirmed in the composition ranging from 96.5 to 94.5wt. % MgSiO
3. In the more aluminous region the subsolidus phase as-semblage is protoenstatite
ss+forsterite+cordierite
ss. The experimental result indicates that the composition of protoenstatite lies not only on the join MgSiO
3-MgAl
2SiO
6 but also has a solid solution area on the MgO-Al
2O
3-SiO
2 plane as shown in Fig. 4. The unit-cell dimensions of the protoenstatite
ss crystallized at 1300°C were determined.
a, b, and
V decrease with increasing Al
2O
3 contents in the protoenstatite
ss. The application of the results to meterorite as well as terrestrial rock is discussed. The Al
2O
3 contents of enstatite in meteorite may be used as an indicator of temperature scale.
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