Experimental study of the incorporation of Li, Sc, Al and other trace elements into olivine

Our results demonstrate that partitioning of 1+ and 3+ ions into olivine is complex and involves a range of point defects which yield strongly composition-dependent crystal-melt partition coefficients. Since physical and chemical properties of natural olivine, such as diffusion of 6Li and 7Li and H2O solubility, depend on the concentrations of the defects identified in this study, our results provide an important insight into how determining substitution mechanisms can improve our understanding of large-scale mantle processes and properties.