Publication Date:
2022-03-30
Description:
As evidenced by isotope geochemistry, the persistence of primitive reservoirs indicates that the earth's lower mantle is likely to be heterogeneous. Such heterogeneity could be a legacy from magma‐ocean (MO) solidification. The viscosity of MO is a key parameter to constrain the solidification type of MO. Here we directly measure the viscosity of peridotite (an analog of MO composition) melt at the pressure‐temperature conditions of the deep mantle, using the in situ falling sphere method. The viscosity of peridotite melt along liquidus is in the range of 38–17 mPa s at pressures from 7 to 25 GPa, which is 0.9–0.4 times of the estimation based on the viscosity of endmember compositions. Low viscosity favors fractional solidification and chemically layering of the early mantle at least to the top lower mantle, which could be a source of heterogeneity for the present mantle.
Description:
Plain Language Summary:
The earth experiences a large‐scale melting and forms a deep magma ocean in its early history. The viscosity of peridotite melt is a key parameter for understanding the solidification type of magma ocean, which leads to the primitive mantle structure. This study directly measured the viscosity of peridotite melt to deep mantle conditions and revealed that peridotite melt has a lower value of viscosity than expected. The low viscosity of peridotite melt suggests a fractional solidification of the magma ocean, which supports a heterogeneous primitive mantle.
Description:
Key Points:
The viscosity of peridotite melt has been measured down to lower‐mantle conditions by in situ falling sphere viscometry.
Peridotite melt has a lower viscosity than expected from the viscosity of the endmembers.
The low viscosity of peridotite melt suggests a fractional solidification in the magma ocean, supporting a heterogeneous primitive mantle.
Description:
MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001691
Description:
Grant‐in‐aid for Scientific Research
Description:
European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program
Description:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5512934
Keywords:
ddc:552.1
;
ddc:551.12
Language:
English
Type:
doc-type:article
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