Phase relations in the system MgSiO3-Al2O3 up to 52Â GPa and 2000Â K

Phase relations in the system MgSiO3-Al2O3 have been determined for pressures from 15 to 52 GPa and at a temperature of 2000 K from in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements obtained using sintered diamond anvils in a multi-anvil apparatus. A wide two-phase region of garnet and corundum is found to exist up to 27 GPa; at higher pressures, a phase assemblage of aluminous bridgmanite and corundum is stabilized. The solubility of Al2O3 in bridgmanite and that of MgSiO3 in corundum are highly dependent on pressure; the Al2O3 content in bridgmanite increases from 12 mol% at 27 GPa to 29 mol% at 52 GPa, forming bridgmanite with the pyrope composition (25 mol% Al2O3) at about 45 GPa. In contrast, the MgSiO3 content in corundum decreases from 24 mol% at 27 GPa to 9 mol% at 52 GPa. The minimum pressure where the pyropic bridgmanite is formed is significantly higher than the result of the earlier study (∼37 GPa) on the pyrope composition. These results suggest the Al2O3 content in bridgmanite and the MgSiO3 content in corundum are good pressure indicators in the mixed-phase region at pressures above 30 GPa, where virtually no pressure references are available for quench experiments. The new phase diagram in the system MgSiO3-Al2O3 confirms that bridgmanite is the dominant host mineral for Al2O3 in the pyrolitic or peridotitic compositions under the pressure and temperature conditions of the Earth's lower mantle.