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Nonlinearity of the post-spinel transition and its expression in slabs and plumes worldwide

Author

Listed:
  • Junjie Dong

    (Cambridge
    Cambridge
    Pasadena)

  • Rebecca A. Fischer

    (Cambridge)

  • Lars P. Stixrude

    (Los Angeles)

  • Matthew C. Brennan

    (Cambridge
    Los Alamos National Laboratory)

  • Kierstin Daviau

    (Cambridge
    University of Waikato)

  • Terry-Ann Suer

    (Cambridge
    Rochester)

  • Katlyn M. Turner

    (Cambridge
    Cambridge)

  • Yue Meng

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Vitali B. Prakapenka

    (University of Chicago)

Abstract

Phase transitions in the mantle control its internal dynamics and structure. The post-spinel transition marks the upper–lower mantle boundary, where ringwoodite dissociates into bridgmanite plus ferropericlase, and its Clapeyron slope regulates mantle flow across it. This interaction has previously been assumed to have no lateral spatial variations, based on the assumption of a linear post-spinel boundary in pressure and temperature. Here we present laser-heated diamond anvil cell experiments with synchrotron X-ray diffraction to better constrain this boundary, especially at higher temperatures. Combining our data with results from the literature, and using a global analysis based on machine learning, we find a pronounced nonlinearity in the post-spinel boundary, with its slope ranging from –4 MPa/K at 2100 K, to –2 MPa/K at 1950 K, and to 0 MPa/K at 1600 K. Changes in temperature over time and space can therefore cause the post-spinel transition to have variable effects on mantle convection and the movement of subducting slabs and upwelling plumes.

Suggested Citation

  • Junjie Dong & Rebecca A. Fischer & Lars P. Stixrude & Matthew C. Brennan & Kierstin Daviau & Terry-Ann Suer & Katlyn M. Turner & Yue Meng & Vitali B. Prakapenka, 2025. "Nonlinearity of the post-spinel transition and its expression in slabs and plumes worldwide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56231-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56231-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Artem Chanyshev & Takayuki Ishii & Dmitry Bondar & Shrikant Bhat & Eun Jeong Kim & Robert Farla & Keisuke Nishida & Zhaodong Liu & Lin Wang & Ayano Nakajima & Bingmin Yan & Hu Tang & Zhen Chen & Yuji , 2022. "Depressed 660-km discontinuity caused by akimotoite–bridgmanite transition," Nature, Nature, vol. 601(7891), pages 69-73, January.
    2. L. Chudinovskikh & R. Boehler, 2001. "High-pressure polymorphs of olivine and the 660-km seismic discontinuity," Nature, Nature, vol. 411(6837), pages 574-577, May.
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