A low-pressure-high-temperature technique for the piston-cylinder

A method for conducting successful low pressure (0.3-0.5 GPa) and high temperature (900-1200 degrees C) experiments in the 19 mm piston-cylinder is presented. The technique is capable of running high fluid/melt experiments with minimum hydrogen loss, attaining precise, reproducible pressures (+/- 10%), and has fast initial quench rates (> 150 degrees C/s). These abilities are invaluable when conducting low pressure, fluid-saturated experiments such as phase equilibria, volatile solubility, and dynamic degassing experiments that are relevant to sub-volcanic magma chamber processes. A double capsule construction is also described that uses a solid oxygen buffer, and minimizes both contamination of the sample by carbon and the loss of iron in the melt to the capsule walls.