The lower mantle is believed to consist predominantly of (Mg,Fe)(Si,Al)O3
perovskite and (Mg,Fe)O. We have studied the effect of aluminium on
the oxidation state of iron in the silicate perovskite phase, and found
that Fe3+/ Fe is controlled largely
by the amount of aluminium (see Annual Report 1997). In a continuation
of this study we have focused on electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS)
to determine Fe3+/
Fe in these perovskite
phases. While Mössbauer spectroscopy is a well known and established
method, EELS provides a new possibility to investigate Fe3+/
Fe with high spatial resolution.
The samples of (Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al)O3 perovskite were synthesised
from orthopyroxene in a multianvil press at conditions relevant to the
lower mantle (26 GPa, ~1700°C, run time 2-8 h) at different oxygen
fugacities produced by using Re and Fe capsules. The resulting run products
were characterized by X-ray diffraction and chemical composition was analysed
with an electron microprobe. The Fe3+/
Fe ratio was determined using both 57Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy
and EELS.
A typical EELS spectrum is illustrated in Fig. 3.2-9, which shows the
FeL2 and FeL3 edges. Fe3+/
Fe was determined using the 'small window' method developed by van Aken
et al., where the integral intensity ratio of the grey shaded areas is
calculated and Fe3+/
Fe is determined
from a calibration curve. Our results indicate that EELS and Mössbauer
data are in good agreement. The high spatial resolution of EELS (on the
scale of nm) enables determination of Fe3+/
Fe of single grains, and we are applying the method to multi-phase assemblages
relevant to the lower mantle.
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