The role of titanium and the effect of TiO2 on the cell-size, refractive index, and specific gravity in the andradite-melanite-schorlomite series

Abstract

New chemical analyses, cell-sizes, and specific gravities are given for 12 garnets, and TiO2 values, cell-sizes, and refractive indices are presented for a further 33 garnets all belonging to the andradite-melanite-schorlomite series. The increase of refractive index, cell-size, and specific gravity with increasing titania is shown graphically. A plot of Ti against Si atoms in the unit cell suggests that Ti replaces Si rather than Fe3+ in the structure, while electron-probe results indicate that Si or (Si+Fe) may be replaced by Ti. The chemical and infra-red absorption data are considered in a discussion of the structural role of titanium in these garnets : both Ti4+ and Ti3+ may be present.