This study will continue work begun on a previous grant on the vibrational properties of silicate minerals and related systems. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy will be used, coupled with solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and ab initio molecular orbital calculations, to study the structures and thermodynamic properties of high pressure hydrated silicate minerals, the mechanism and composition dependence of water solubility in aluminosilicate melts, and pressure-dependent coordination changes of Si and Al in aluminosilicate melts and glasses. This will further the understanding of and the capability of modelling of a broad range of earth materials.
