Condensation Temperatures of the Elements (Volatile & Refractory)

The primary cosmochemical classification of the elements is based on their volatility within the solar nebulaThe primitive gas and dust cloud around the Sun from which planetary materials formed.. Each element’s equilibriumTerm used to describe physical or chemical stasis. Physical equilibrium may be divided into two types: static and dynamic. Static equilibrium occurs when the components of forces and torques acting in one direction are balanced by components of forces and torques acting in the opposite direction. A system in static Click on Term to Read More (50%) condensation temperatures (T_C,50 (K) at 10 ^-4 barUnit of pressure equal to 100 kPa.) is used to divide the elements into those that are refractory (having equilibrium condensation temperatures higher than the most abundant rock-forming elements such as magnesium, silicon and iron), moderately volatileSubstances which have a tendency to enter the gas phase relatively easily (by evaporation, addition of heat, etc.). (having T_C,50 lower than refractory elementsUsing research by Wood (2019), any of the elements with a relatively high condensation temperature of 1291 K < TC,50 < 1806 K in the solar nebula1. They are the first elements to condense out of a cooling gas. Refractory elements are the main building blocks of rocky planets, dwarf Click on Term to Read More but higher than that of FeS), and volatile (having T_C,50 less than FeS). Some sources also refer to the super refractory elements that include Hf, Zr, W, Re and Os.

The T_C,50 used below and the table further down was created in large part using the information from the 2019 paper written by B. Wood, et al titled “The condensation temperatures of the elements: A reappraisal“.

• 1720 K (Hafnium T_C,50) < T_C,50 Super-Refractory < 1806 K (Osmium T_C,50)
• 1291 K (Chromium T_C,50) < T_C,50 Refractory < 1720 K
• 672 K (Sulfur T_C,50) < T_C,50 Moderately Volatile < 1291 K
• T_C,50 Volatile < 672 K

Note that the en.wikipedia.org entry uses references that are no longer up to date.

Condensation Temperatures of the Elements (Volatile & Refractory)

Notes:

1. En = enstatiteA mineral that is composed of Mg-rich pyroxene, MgSiO3. It is the magnesium endmember of the pyroxene silicate mineral series - enstatite (MgSiO3) to ferrosilite (FeSiO3). Click on Term to Read More; Fo = forsteritePure* magnesium end-member (Mg2SiO4) of the olivine solid solution series and an important mineral in meteorites. When magnesium (Mg) is completely substituted by iron, it yields the the pure Fe-olivine end member, fayalite (Fe2SiO4). The various Fe and Mg substitutions between these two end-members are described based on their forsteritic (Fo) Click on Term to Read More; Cpx = clinopyroxene; Mll = meliliteGroup of minerals found in the CAIs of meteorites such as CV chondrites. Melilite consists almost exclusively of the binary solid solution gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7) – åkermanite (Ca2MgSi2O7). The melilite in CAIs is closer to gehlenite in composition. The first-formed (highest-temperature) melilite crystallizing from a melt is relatively aluminum-rich and becomes progressively Click on Term to Read More; Pl = plagioclaseAlso referred to as the plagioclase feldspar series. Plagioclase is a common rock-forming series of feldspar minerals containing a continuous solid solution of calcium and sodium: (Na1-x,Cax)(Alx+1,Si1-x)Si2O8 where x = 0 to 1. The Ca-rich end-member is called anorthite (pure anorthite has formula: CaAl2Si2O8) and the Na-rich end-member is albite Click on Term to Read More; Fsp = feldsparAn alumino-silicate mineral containing a solid solution of calcium, sodium and potassium. Over half the Earth’s crust is composed of feldspars and due to their abundance, feldspars are used in the classification of igneous rocks. A more complete explanation can be found on the feldspar group page. Click on Term to Read More; Ap = apatite; Crn = corundumCrystalline form of aluminium oxide, Al2O3, found in Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs). Corundum-bearing  CAI are a rare class of high-temperature condensates from the inner regions of the protoplanetary disk¹. Click on Term to Read More; Hbn = hiboniteRefractory mineral, Ca-aluminate (CaAl12O19) that occurs in terrestrial metamorphic rocks and in CAIs of many chondrites. Meteoritic hibonite tends to be blue as seen in the meteorite Isheyevo (Ch/CB). Hibonite is one of the most refractory minerals found in primitive meteorites. Click on Term to Read More; Scb = schreibersiteNi-Fe phosphide mineral, (Fe,Ni)3P, yellowish in color and predominantly found in iron and stony-iron meteorites. Schreibersite can also be found in a variety of other meteorites including some acapulcoites, aubrites, enstatite chondrites and achondrites, lunars, ureilites, winonaites and a smattering of other meteorite types like CM, CO and CB. Schreibersite Click on Term to Read More; Tro = troiliteBrass colored non-magnetic mineral of iron sulfide, FeS, found in a variety of meteorites. Click on Term to Read More; Sdl = sodalite; Prv = perovskiteTerm applied to A2+B4+O3 high-pressure minerals with a perovskite structure (general formula ABX3) where "A" is a metal that forms large cations such as Mg, Fe or Ca, "B" is another metal that forms smaller cations such as Si (called silicate perovskite), Ti and to a lesser degree Al, and Click on Term to Read More; Syl = sylvite; Sa = sanidine
2. 10 ^-5 bar
3. Approximate temperature
4. ** Based on Wasson except for C, Ar, Kr, N, O that are based on Lodders

Other Sources:

1. https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10036398
2. Lauretta, McSween “Meteorites and the Early Solar System”, p. 296 (Volatile Evolution and Loss by Andrew M. Davis)
3. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/375492/fulltext/57586.text.html, Solar SystemThe Sun and set of objects orbiting around it including planets and their moons and rings, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. Abundances and Condensation Temperatures of the Elements, Katharina Lodders