Plagioclase feldspars [Na 1-x Ca x (Si 3-x Al 1+x O 8 )] that commonly occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks are the most abundant minerals in the earth's crust. Although crystal structures for end members of albite (Ab = NaSi 3 AlO 8 ) and anorthite (An = CaSi 2 Al 2 O 8 ) are relatively simple, the structures for intermediate plagioclase feldspars with incommensurate modulations are very complicated at low temperature, and are not simple mixtures of albite and anorthite subunits [1]. The

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... tal structures and formation mechanism of the modulated structure in intermediate plagioclase have been an enigma for decades beginning with the first discovery in 1940 [2]. The modulated structure and its formation mechanism affect our understanding about mineral associations of plagioclase feldspars and their subsolidus reactions like ordering and exsolution. All proposed structure models based on X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic studies can be categorized into two groups: (1) periodic alternating lamellae with anorthite (I1 ) structure in anti-phase relationship with a stacking vector of ½ c, and (2) periodic alternating lamellae with anorthite (I1 ) and albite (C1 ) structures. Ca-Na ordering and structural polarity of subcells in an intermediate plagioclase with modulated structure have been observed using Z-contrast imaging methodology with an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope [3]. Neighboring lamellar domains with I1 symmetry are related by inversion twin operation, instead of anti-phase domain boundaries (or, APBs) as in all previously reported structure models. The boundaries between lamellar domains have I1 symmetry instead of C1 symmetry. Modulated plagioclase has unique Ca-Na and Al-Si ordering structure that is different from those in end-member structures of anorthite and low albite. The modulated structures of intermediate plagioclase are not metastable structures formed during phase transition, but rather thermodynamically stable structures at low temperature due to Si-Al and coupled Ca-Na ordering within the subcells with I1 symmetry. The f-reflections indicate a structure with density modulation that was observed in both Ca-rich and Na-rich e-plagioclase feldspars [4, 5]. The discovery of f-reflections in Narich e-plagioclase extends the composition range of e1 structure with density modulation to as low as at least An 45 , which is below the composition range of Bøggild intergrowth. The new result supports the loop-shaped solvus for Bøggild intergrowth, below which is a homogenous stable area for e1 structure in the phase diagram. The phase transition between e2 structure without density modulation and e1 structure with density modulation should happen at low temperature for Na-rich plagioclase feldspars. There is a change in modulation period accompanying the phase transition, as well as higher occupancy of Al in T 1 o site. The andesine with density modulation also indicates extremely slow cooling history.