Synthesis of Large Amounts of Volatile Element-Bearing Silicate Glasses Using a Two-Stage Melting Process

The evaporation of volatile and moderately volatile elements from silicate glasses is an important topic in geosciences, environmental, and materials sciences. Glasses that contain volatile elements are used in a wide range of experimental studies, but the synthesis of volatile-bearing glasses at high temperatures as well as the choice of starting materials is challenging. Here, we present a new method for the synthesis of 15–20 g of moderately volatile- and volatile element-bearing boron-aluminosilicate glasses using a two-stage melting process. Results show that the glasses contain between 7000 and 10,000 μg/g Zn, Cu, or Te and ∼3000 μg/g S. In situ analyses with scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis confirm that all glasses are homogeneous for major and trace elements within the analytical uncertainties.