Abstract
The calcite-aragonite equilibrium has been investigated between 200 and 600° C both in a carefully calibrated hydrothermal apparatus and in a piston-cylinder device of high precision. The equilibrium pressure is 5 kb at 180° C, 7 kb at 300° C, 9 kb at 400° C, and 11 kb at 480° C.
The calcite-aragonite transition boundary which has been bracketed is continuously curved between 300 and 500° C and is more or less straight above and below this temperature range. It is shown that the calcite I-calcite II reaction is probably a second (and not a first) order transition.
The experimental result shows that aragonite may already be formed out of calcite at a depth of 15 km if the temperature is not much higher than 100° C. The calcitearagonite and the albite-jadeite-quartz curves intersect at about 750° C and 20 kb. There is a P-T-field (up to 3.5 kb broad) where aragonite and albite coexist.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bell, P. M., England, J. L.: High-pressure differential thermal analysis of a fast reaction with CaO3. Carnegie Inst. Wash. Year Book 63, 176–178 (1964).
Boeke, H. E.: Die Schmelzerscheinungen und die umkehrbare Umwandlung des Calciumcarbonats. Neues Jahrb. Mineral. Geol. 1, 91–212 (1912).
Boettcher, A. L., Wyllie, P. J.: The calcite-aragonite transition measured in the system CaO-CO2-H2O. J. Geol. 76, 314–330 (1968).
Bridgeman, P. W.: The high pressure behaviour of miscellaneous minerals. Amer. J. Sci. 237, 1–9 (1939).
Brown, W. H., Fyfe, W. S., Turner, F. J.: Aragonite in California glaucophane schists, and the kinetics of the aragonite-calcite transformation. J. Petrol. 3, 566–582 (1962).
Clark, S. P.: A note on calcite-Aragonite equilibrium. Am. Mineralogist 42, 564–566 (1957).
Cogulu, E.: Etude pétrographique de la région de Mihaliccik (Turquie). Schweiz. Mineral. Petrog. Mitt. 47, 683–824 (1967).
Coleman, T. G., Lee, D. E.: Metamorphic aragonite in the glaucophane schists of Cazadero, California. Am. J. Sci. 260, 577–595 (1962).
Crawford, W. A., Fyfe, W. S.: Calcite-aragonite equilibrium at 100° C. Science 144, 1569–1570 (1964).
Ernst, W. G.: Mineral paragenesis in Franciscan metamorphio rocks, Panoche Pass, California. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 76, 879–913 (1965).
Froese, E., Winkler, H. G. F.: The system CaCO3-SrCO3 at high pressures and 500° C to 200° C. Can. Mineralogist 8, 551–566 (1966).
Ghent, E. D.: Glaucophane-schist facies metamorphism in the Black Butte Area, Northern Coast Ranges, California. Am. J. Sci. 263, 385–400 (1965).
Hoffmann, C.: Die Glaukophangesteine und ihre stofflichen Äquivalente in Nordcalabrien (Süditalien). Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 27, 283–320 (1970).
Jamieson, J. C.: Phase equilibrium in the system calcite-aragonite. J. Chem. Phys. 21, 1385–1390 (1953).
McKee, B.: Aragonite in the franciscan rocks of the Pacheco Pass area, California. Am. Mineralogist 47, 379–387 (1962).
Newton, R. C., Goldsmith, J. R., Smith, J. V.: Aragonite crystallization from strained calcite at reduced pressures and its bearing on aragonite in low-grade metamorphism. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 22, 335–348 (1969).
Sclar, C. B., Garrison, L. C., Schwartz, C. M.: The calcite-aragonite transition and the calibration of a belt-type apparatus between 15 and 35 kb, 700° to 1400° C. Am. Soc. Mech. Engineere Paper 62-WA-248, 7 p (1962).
Simmons, G., Bell, P.: Calcite-aragonite equilibrium. Science 139, 1197–1198 (1963).
Turner, F. J.: Metamorphic petrology. New York: McGraw Hill Book Co. 1968.
Vance, J. A.: Metamorphic aragonite in the prehnite-pumpellyite facies, Northwest Washington. Am. J. Sci. 266, 299–315 (1968).
Winkler, H. G. F.: The genesis of metamorphic rocks, 2nd ed. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1967.
Zimmermann, H. D.: Gleichgewichtsbedingungen der Reaktion Albit⇌Jadeit + Quarz und Calcit⇌Aragonit: Dissertation, Göttingen 1969.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Johannes, W., Puhan, D. The calcite-aragonite transition, reinvestigated. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 31, 28–38 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373389
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00373389