The principal investigator proposes to study the kinetics of hydrogen and majority point defects in olivine. Experiments on olivine will be carried out in order to determine the dependence of hydrogen solubility on hydrogen fugacity. Results, determined from infrared spectroscopic data, will be used to understand the mechanism by which hydrogen affects important internal properties of olivine. Additionally, coulometric titration measurements will be made to study the mobilities of the majority point defects in olivine, as well as the deviation in stoichiometry, as a function of various thermodynamic parameters. Ultimately all studies will lead to the development of a point defect model for olivine. This in turn will be critical to understanding the behavior of olivine and, for example, to interpreting conditions in the earth's mantle, as well as other geological environments.
