Platinum-Iron Alloy Sample Containers for Melting Experiments on Iron-Bearing Rocks, Minerals, and Related Systems

C. E. Ford
Grant Institute of Geology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW

Summary: A method of producing platinum-iron alloy sample containers has been developed that allows experiments to be carried out on iron- and volatile-bearing systems with minimal net exchange of iron between the sample and its container. Preliminary experiments carried out using these containers in the temperature range from 1100 °C to 1250 °C and at pressures up to 10 kb over periods of up to 75 hours produced an average iron loss of 10% to 16% (as FeO) compared with more than 50% FeO loss obtained using pure platinum containers. A more judicious choice of alloy composition would reduce this loss still further.

Mineralogical Magazine; June 1978 v. 42; no. 322; p. 271-275; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1978.042.322.16
© 1978, The Mineralogical Society
Mineralogical Society (www.minersoc.org)