Viscosity of silicate melts in CaMgSi₂O₆- NaAlSi₂O₆ system at high pressure

In situ X-ray viscometry of the silicate melts was carried out at high pressure and at high temperature. The viscosity of the silicate melts in the diopside(Di)-jadeite(Jd) system was determined in the pressure range from 1.88 GPa to 7.9 GPa and in the temperature range from 2,003 K to 2,173 K. The viscosity of the Di 25%-Jd 75% melt decreases continuously to 5.0 GPa, whereas the viscosity of the Di 50%-Jd 50% melt increases over 3.5 GPa. The viscosity of the Di50%-Jd 50% melt reaches a minimum around 3.5 GPa. Since the amounts of silicon in the two melts are the same, the difference in the pressure dependence of the viscosity may be controlled by another network-forming element, i.e., aluminum. The difference in the pressure dependence of the viscosities in the melts with two intermediate compositions in the Di-Jd system is estimated to be due to the difference in the melt structures at high pressures and high temperatures.