The structure of wadsleyite, (Mg,Fe)
2
SiO
4
(beta phase)
oxygen atom O
iron atom Fe or magnesium atom Mg
silicon atome Si
Crystalographic system: orthorombic.
Molar volume: 40,52 cm
3
/mol
Under high pressure, wadsleyite transforms into
ringwoodite
. At lower pressures, it transforms into
olivine, alpha phase
. This mineral has been synthetised in the laboratory and then observed in diamond inclusions.
Copyright © 2001 Sébastien Merkel
