Phase relationships in the system K2CO3-CaCO3 at 6 GPa and 900-1450 degrees C

Phase relations in the system K2CO3-CaCO3 have been studied in the compositional range, X(K2CO3), from 100 to 10 mol%, at 6.0 GPa and 900-1450 degrees C. At 900-950 degrees C, the system has three intermediate compounds: K6Ca2(CO3)(5), K2Ca(CO3)(2), and K2Ca3(CO3)(4). The K2Ca(CO3)(2) compound decomposes to the K6Ca2(CO3)(5)+ K2Ca3(CO3)(4) assembly above 950 degrees C. The K6Ca2(CO3)(5) and K2Ca3(CO3)(4) compounds melt congruently slightly above 1200 and 1300 degrees C, respectively. The eutectics were established at 64 and 44 mol% near 1200 degrees C and at 23 mol% near 1300 degrees C. K2CO3 remains as a liquidus phase at 1300 degrees C and 75 mol% and melts at 1425 +/- 20 degrees C. Aragonite remains as a liquidus phase at 1300 degrees C and 20 mol% and at 1400 degrees C and 10 mol%. CaCO3 solubility in K2CO3 and K2CO3 solubility in aragonite are below the detection limit (<0.5 mol%). Infiltration of subduction-derived K-rich Ca-Mg-Fe-carbonatite into the Fe-0-saturated mantle causes the extraction of (Mg,Fe)CO3 components from the melt, which shifts its composition toward K-Ca-carbonatite. According to our data this melt can be stable at the P-T conditions of subcratonic lithosphere with geothermal gradient of 40 mW/m(2) corresponding to temperature of 1200 degrees C at 6 GPa.