R2: Crystal structure, crystal chemistry, physical properties of minerals, crystal growth and applied mineralogy

[R2-03] Growth of Quartz, Tridymite and Cristobalite in a CaO-MgO-Li₂O-V₂O₅ Flux System

*Toshiya Abe¹ (1. Yamaguchi Univ. Sci.)

Keywords:Growth, Flux, Quartz, Tridymite, Cristobalite

At the 2018 annual meeting, we reported quartz and tridymite crystallized in the flux system CaO-MgO-Li₂O-V₂O₅. Further experiments, however, have shown that cristobalite, in addition to quartz and tridymite, could crystallize when amorphous silica was used as a starting material. Quartz appears in a hexagonal bipyramid form, while tridymite, both under stable and metastable conditions, in a hexagonal platy form. Moreover, metastable cristobalite has been also detected. The detailed form, however, could not be discerned with an optical microscope.