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The α–β phase transition in volcanic cristobalite
Author(s) -
Damby David E.,
Llewellin Edward W.,
Horwell Claire J.,
Williamson Ben J.,
Najorka Jens,
Cressey Gordon,
Carpenter Michael
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied crystallography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.429
H-Index - 162
ISSN - 1600-5767
DOI - 10.1107/s160057671401070x
Subject(s) - cristobalite , phase transition , volcano , tridymite , materials science , crystallography , mineralogy , powder diffraction , crystal structure , differential scanning calorimetry , phase (matter) , chemistry , geology , thermodynamics , quartz , physics , metallurgy , organic chemistry , geochemistry
Cristobalite is a common mineral in volcanic ash produced from dome‐forming eruptions. Assessment of the respiratory hazard posed by volcanic ash requires understanding the nature of the cristobalite it contains. Volcanic cristobalite contains coupled substitutions of Al 3+ and Na + for Si 4+ ; similar co‐substitutions in synthetic cristobalite are known to modify the crystal structure, affecting the stability of the α and β forms and the observed transition between them. Here, for the first time, the dynamics and energy changes associated with the α–β phase transition in volcanic cristobalite are investigated using X‐ray powder diffraction with simultaneous in situ heating and differential scanning calorimetry. At ambient temperature, volcanic cristobalite exists in the α form and has a larger cell volume than synthetic α‐cristobalite; as a result, its diffraction pattern sits between ICDD α‐ and β‐cristobalite library patterns, which could cause ambiguity in phase identification. On heating from ambient temperature, volcanic cristobalite exhibits a lower degree of thermal expansion than synthetic cristobalite, and it also has a lower α–β transition temperature (∼473 K) compared with synthetic cristobalite (upwards of 543 K); these observations are discussed in relation to the presence of Al 3+ and Na + defects. The transition shows a stable and reproducible hysteresis loop with α and β phases coexisting through the transition, suggesting that discrete crystals in the sample have different transition temperatures.