Filtering by Subject: Mineral Physics
Published: 2020-03-31
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Mg diffusion is important for explaining many rheological properties in forsterite but its mechanism is unknown. Without knowing a mechanism the effect of variables such as pressure are hard to constrain. In this study we used Density Functional Theory (DFT) to calculate the diffusivity of Mg vacancies and interstitials in forsterite and thus the diffusion rate of Mg in forsterite. We predict [...]
Published: 2019-12-04
Subjects: Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Materials Chemistry, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
A large class of solid solution models are built on the premise that exchange of chemical species takes place on a finite number of unique sites, and that the thermodynamic properties of the solution are a function of the proportions of species occupying each of the sites. The site-occupancy spaces spanned by such models are geometrically equivalent to convex polytopes, n-dimensional [...]
Published: 2019-11-14
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geochemistry, Geology, Mineral Physics, Other Earth Sciences, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The occurrence of the quartz–carbonate alteration assemblage (listvenite) in ophiolites indicates that ultramafic rock represents an effective sink for dissolved CO2. However, the majority of earlier studies of ultramafic rock carbonation had to rely on the surface exposure of reaction textures and field relationships. Here we present the first observations on ultramafic rock alteration obtained [...]
Published: 2019-11-14
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geochemistry, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Carbon is an essential element for the existence and evolution of life on Earth, constitutes up to 50% of dry biomass, and is likely a requirement for all life in the universe. Its high abundance in Earth’s crust and mantle (the Bulk Silicate Earth, BSE) is surprising because carbon is strongly siderophile (metal-loving) and should have segregated almost completely into Earth’s core during [...]
Published: 2019-10-31
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geochemistry, Geology, Geophysics and Seismology, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Tectonics and Structure
All minerals behave elastically, a rheological property that controls their ability to support stress, strain and pressure, the nature of acoustic wave propagation and influences subsequent plastic (i.e. permanent, non-reversible) deformation. All minerals are intrinsically anisotropic in their elastic properties – that is, they have directional variations that are related to the configuration [...]
Published: 2019-09-06
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The thermophysical properties of molten silicates at extreme conditions are crucial for understanding the early evolution of Earth and other massive rocky planets, which is marked by giant impacts capable of producing deep magma oceans. Cooling and crystallization of molten mantles are sensitive to the densities and adiabatic profiles of high-pressure molten silicates, demanding accurate Equation [...]
Published: 2019-09-06
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Seismic tomography reveals two large, low-shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. These structures may have existed for several 100 Myr and are likely compositionally distinct based on observed seismic characteristics interpreted in light of geodynamic models and mineral physics constraints. We investigate the dynamics of the LLSVPs through the use of evolutionary [...]
Published: 2019-09-06
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The D discontinuity is defined by a seismic velocity increase of 1–3% about 250 km above the core–mantle boundary (CMB), and is mainly detected beneath locations of inferred paleosubduction. A phase change origin for the interface can explain a triplicated arrival observed in seismic waveform data and is supported by the recent discovery of a post-perovskite phase transition. We investigate the [...]
Published: 2019-09-06
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Recent results (Wicks et al., 2010) suggest that a mixture of iron-enriched (Mg,Fe)O and ambient mantle is consistent with wavespeed reductions and density increases inferred for ultralow-velocity zones (ULVZs). We explore this hypothesis by simulating convection to deduce the stability and morphology of such chemically-distinct structures. The buoyancy number, or chemical density anomaly, [...]
Published: 2019-09-06
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Using a numerical model we explore the consequences of the intrinsic density change (Δρ/ρ ≈ 2–4%) caused by the Fe2+ spin transition in ferropericlase on the style and vigor of mantle convection. The effective Clapeyron slope of the transition from high to low spin is strongly positive in pressure‐temperature space and broadens with high temperature. This introduces a net spin‐state driving [...]
Published: 2019-08-21
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geophysics and Seismology, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Earth’s inner core exhibits significant anisotropy in both seismic velocity and attenuation as well as hemispherical and depth variations. These observations point to an inner core that is both complex and dynamic. However, interpretation of these observations without knowledge of the attenuation processes active in the inner-core is difficult. To address this we have used zinc, as a [...]
Published: 2019-05-14
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The development of smooth, mirror-like surfaces provides insight into the mechanical behaviour of crustal faults during the seismic cycle. To determine the thermo-chemical mechanisms of fault mirror formation, we investigated carbonate fault systems in seismically active areas of central Greece. Using multi-scale electron microscopy combined with Raman and electron energy loss spectroscopy, we [...]
Published: 2019-05-06
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geochemistry, Geology, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics, Volcanology
Distorted olivines of enigmatic origin are ubiquitous in erupted products from a wide range of volcanic systems (e.g., Hawaiʻi, Iceland, Andes). Investigation of these features at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai’i, using an integrative crystallographic and chemical approach places quantitative constraints on mush pile thicknesses. Electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) reveals that the microstructural [...]
Published: 2019-04-23
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geochemistry, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
MgCO3 is one of the most important components of mantle-derived carbonatite melts, and yet also one of the most difficult to study experimentally. Attempts to constrain its thermodynamic properties are hampered by decarbonation, which occurs at only ~500 °C, far below its metastable 1 bar melting temperature. Molecular dynamic simulations, however, can predict the thermodynamic properties of the [...]
Published: 2019-04-18
Subjects: Earth Sciences, Geology, Mineral Physics, Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Analysis of distortions of the crystal lattice within individual mineral grains is central to the investigation of microscale processes that control and record tectonic events. These distortions are generally combinations of lattice rotations and elastic strains, but a lack of suitable observational techniques has prevented these components being mapped simultaneously and routinely in earth [...]