- Graduate School GLOMAR
- PhD student members
- Christin Wiggers
Christin Wiggers
Institution: | University of Bremen |
Office: | GEO, room 2320 |
Phone: | +49 421 218 - 65162 |
E-mail: | [Bitte aktivieren Sie Javascript] |
Other webpage(s): | Christin's GEO web page |
PhD Project
Local order and physical properties in Olivine
The solid solution series of Olivine (FexMg1-x)2SiO4 (0 < x < 1) and compounds with olivine structure are considered as a source of alkalinity, a possibility for the removal of CO2 during enhanced weathering and as a potential cathode material. Olivine with a composition of (Fe0.1Mg0.9)2SiO4 is the dominant phase of the upper mantle and one of the most abundant minerals on Earth. Members of the mineral group are commonly found in basic, ultrabasic, extrusive, and intrusive igneous rocks and in metamorphic rocks.
In the crystal structure, the divalent cations are distributed over two symmetrically independent octahedral layers. Additionally, 1/8 of the tetrahedral sites between the octahedra are occupied by Si4+. Cation partitioning has only been investigated in terms of average occupations over the two octahedral layers and is still being discussed. Possible local correlations in the metal ordering and their implications for the physical properties have been widely neglected. Therefore, in my project I am investigating the short- and long-range order in olivine, meaning possible preferences for neighbouring cations and cation distribution within the octahedral layers. I will study the effects of local interactions between the iron and magnesium layers on the physical properties, such as isotropic bulk and shear moduli as well as compressional and shear wave velocities.
Thesis Committee
Prof. Dr. Ella M. Schmidt | University of Bremen, Faculty of Geosciences |
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Bach | University of Bremen, MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Faculty of Geosciences |
Dr. Christoph Vogt | University of Bremen, Faculty of Geosciences |