Raman spectroscopic and visible absorption investigation of LiCrSi2O6 pyroxene under pressure

The first observation of the vibrational spectrum of the synthetic pyroxene Li-kosmochlor (LiCrSi2O6) is reported herein. The Raman and visible spectra are reported as a function of pressure. Though the pyroxene retains its P21/c symmetry, changes in the Raman spectra are observed between 6.8 and 7.7 GPa, possibly due to the formation of an additional bond between Li and O3 or some other transition that retains the mineral's P21/c space group. Splitting of the peak appearing at approximately 700 cm(-1), used to characterize the P21/c phase in other studies, is not observed. Comparison is made with the Raman spectra of LiAlSi2O6 and LiFeSi2O6 in the P21/c phase and the visible spectra of NaCrSi2O6 at high pressures.