Articles | Volume 38, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-38-669-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-38-669-2026
Research article
 | 
06 Nov 2026
Research article |  | 06 Nov 2026

New insights into the high-pressure behaviour of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9

Benedetta Chrappan Soldavini, Davide Comboni, Gaston Garbarino, Michael Hanfland, and Marco Merlini

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Cited articles

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Angel, R. J., Gonzalez-Platas, J., and Alvaro, M.: EosFit7c and a Fortran module (library) for equation of state calculations, Z. Kristallogr., 229, 405–419, https://doi.org/10.1515/zkri-2013-1711, 2014. 
Anzolini, C., Angel, R. J., Merlini, M., Derzsi, M., Tokár, K., Milani, S., Krebs, M. Y., Brenker, F. E., Nestola, F., and Harris, J. W.: Depth of formation of CaSiO3-walstromite included in super-deep diamonds, Lithos, 265, 138–147, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2016.09.023, 2016. 
Austin, D.: The Benitoite Story, Independently published, 80 pp., https://g30010.eos-intl.net/G30010/OPAC/Details/Record (last access date: 14 September 2026), 1988. 
Belmonte, D., Ottonello, G., and Zuccolini, M. V.: Ab initio-assisted assessment of the CaO-SiO2 system under pressure, Calphad, 59, 12–30, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.calphad.2017.07.005, 2017. 
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Short summary
The high-pressure behavior of benitoite was studied by synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction up to 22.3 GPa. Three phase transitions were identified: benitoite → II (3.9–4.4 GPa), II → III (12.4–13.1 GPa), and III → IV (16.4–17.1 GPa). Structural evolution and deformation mechanisms are reported, highlighting Si₃O₉ ring rearrangements. These results clarify ring stabilization in silicates and offer analogues for high-pressure CaSiO₃ phases and sp³ carbonates in planetary interiors.
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