First Terrestrial Occurrence of Kaitianite (Ti3+2Ti4+O5) from the Upper Mantle beneath Mount Carmel, Israel

Researchers have identified the first terrestrial occurrence of kaitianite (Ti3+2Ti4+O5), a high-temperature oxide mineral, within melt inclusions in corundum xenoliths from Mount Carmel, Israel. This discovery, part of a broader nanomineralogical investigation, reveals that kaitianite forms under reduced conditions in the upper mantle, occurring as exsolution lamellae in tistarite alongside other complex oxides and phases. The study used electron probe microanalysis and electron back-scatter diffraction to characterize its chemical composition and monoclinic structure, providing insights into the mineral's formation environment. This finding contributes to our understanding of high-pressure, high-temperature processes in Earth's upper mantle.

Ma, C., Cámara, F., Bindi, L., Toledo, V., & Griffin, W. (2023). First Terrestrial Occurrence of Kaitianite (Ti3+2Ti4+O5) from the Upper Mantle beneath Mount Carmel, Israel. Minerals, 13(8), 1097. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13081097