Letter. Identification of hydrogen defects linked to boron substitution in synthetic forsterite and natural olivine

Experimental and theoretical evidence for the coupled substitution of B and H in synthetic forsterite and a natural olivine is presented. The intensities of OH bands at 3704 cm^-1 (//z), 3598 cm^-1 (//x,y), and 3525 cm^-1 (//x) in a heterogeneous B-doped synthetic forsterite crystal matches the zoning of B concentration measured by ion probe. The two anti-symmetric stretching vibrations of BO₃ groups occur at 1301 cm^-1 (//x) and 1207 cm^-1 (//z) for the ¹⁰B and at 1256 and 1168 cm^-1 for the ¹¹B isotope. A microscopic model of the mixed (B,H) defect that accounts for experimental observations is obtained from quantum mechanical calculations. The BO₃ group lies on the (O3-O1-O3) face of the vacant Si site and the H atom is bonded to the O2 atom at the remaining apex. The occurrence of the same OH bands associated with v³ BO³ vibrations in a natural olivine sample from Pakistan confirms the occurrence of this defect in nature. The three diagnostic OH bands can be used as a signature of H associated with boron substitution in olivine and forsterite, leading to a quantitative analysis of their contribution to H-defects.