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Valence and spin states of iron are invisible in Earth’s lower mantle

Author

Listed:
  • Jiachao Liu

    (Michigan State University)

  • Susannah M. Dorfman

    (Michigan State University)

  • Feng Zhu

    (University of Michigan)

  • Jie Li

    (University of Michigan)

  • Yonggang Wang

    (Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR))

  • Dongzhou Zhang

    (University of Hawaii at Manoa)

  • Yuming Xiao

    (Carnegie Institution of Washington)

  • Wenli Bi

    (Argonne National Laboratory
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • E. Ercan Alp

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

Abstract

Heterogeneity in Earth’s mantle is a record of chemical and dynamic processes over Earth’s history. The geophysical signatures of heterogeneity can only be interpreted with quantitative constraints on effects of major elements such as iron on physical properties including density, compressibility, and electrical conductivity. However, deconvolution of the effects of multiple valence and spin states of iron in bridgmanite (Bdg), the most abundant mineral in the lower mantle, has been challenging. Here we show through a study of a ferric-iron-only (Mg0.46Fe3+0.53)(Si0.49Fe3+0.51)O3 Bdg that Fe3+ in the octahedral site undergoes a spin transition between 43 and 53 GPa at 300 K. The resolved effects of the spin transition on density, bulk sound velocity, and electrical conductivity are smaller than previous estimations, consistent with the smooth depth profiles from geophysical observations. For likely mantle compositions, the valence state of iron has minor effects on density and sound velocities relative to major cation composition.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiachao Liu & Susannah M. Dorfman & Feng Zhu & Jie Li & Yonggang Wang & Dongzhou Zhang & Yuming Xiao & Wenli Bi & E. Ercan Alp, 2018. "Valence and spin states of iron are invisible in Earth’s lower mantle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03671-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03671-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Grace E. Shephard & Christine Houser & John W. Hernlund & Juan J. Valencia-Cardona & Reidar G. Trønnes & Renata M. Wentzcovitch, 2021. "Seismological expression of the iron spin crossover in ferropericlase in the Earth’s lower mantle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Laura Cobden & Jingyi Zhuang & Wenjie Lei & Renata Wentzcovitch & Jeannot Trampert & Jeroen Tromp, 2024. "Full-waveform tomography reveals iron spin crossover in Earth’s lower mantle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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