Phase stability of iron germanate, FeGeO 3 , to 127 GPa

The high-pressure behavior of germanates is of interest as these compounds serve as analogs for silicates of the deep Earth. Current theoretical and experimental studies of iron germanate, FeGeO 3 , are limited. Here, we have examined the behavior of FeGeO 3 to 127 GPa using the laser-heated diamond anvil cell combined with in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Upon compression at room temperature, the ambient-pressure clinopyroxene phase transforms to a disordered triclinic phase [FeGeO 3 (II)] at ~ 18 GPa in agreement with earlier studies. An additional phase transition to FeGeO3 (III) occurs above 54 GPa at room temperature. Laser-heating experiments (~ 1200–2200 K) were conducted at three pressures (33, 54, and 123 GPa) chosen to cover the stability regions of different GeO 2 polymorphs. In all cases, we observe that FeGeO 3 dissociates into GeO 2 + FeO at high pressure and temperature conditions. Neither the perovskite nor the post-perovskite phase was observed up to 127 GPa at ambient or high temperatures. The results are consistent with the behavior of FeSiO 3 , which also dissociates into a mixture of the oxides (FeO + SiO 2 ) at least up to 149 GPa.