First-principles constraints on diffusion in lower-mantle minerals and a weak D′′ layer

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 465; no. 7297; pp. 462 - 465
• Main Authors: Brodholt, J. P, Ammann, M. W, Wookey, J, Dobson, D. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 27.05.2010; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 704/2151/210; 704/2151/213; Agreements; Analysis; Anisotropy; Boundary layers (Fluid dynamics); Comparative analysis; Composition; Crystalline rocks; Degrees of freedom (Mechanics); Diffusion (Physics); Earth; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Earthquakes, seismology; Exact sciences and technology; Experimental petrology; Grain size; Humanities and Social Sciences; Internal geophysics; letter; Lower mantle; Magnesium silicates; Mantle; Mantle (Geology); Measurement; Mechanical properties; Minerals; multidisciplinary; Observations; Perovskite; Phase transitions; Science; Solid-earth geophysics, tectonophysics, gravimetry; Theory; United States; United Kingdom; experimental studies; diffusion; perovskite; reflectors; oxides; density; lower mantle; textures; anisotropy; seismology; creep; concentration; seismic discontinuities; core-mantle boundary; mineral assemblages; vacancies; transition zones; crystallography; viscosity; deformation; P-T conditions; heat flux; periclase; seismic waves
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/nature09052

Post-perovskite MgSiO3 is believed to be present in the D′′ region of the Earth’s lowermost mantle. Its existence has been used to explain a number of seismic observations, such as the D′′ reflector and the high degree of seismic anisotropy within the D′′ layer. Ionic diffusion in post-perovskite controls its viscosity, which in turn controls the thermal and chemical coupling between the core and the mantle, the development of plumes and the stability of deep chemical reservoirs. Here we report the use of first-principles methods to calculate absolute diffusion rates in post-perovskite under the conditions found in the Earth’s lower mantle. We find that the diffusion of Mg2+ and Si4+ in post-perovskite is extremely anisotropic, with almost eight orders of magnitude difference between the fast and slow directions. If post-perovskite in the D′′ layer shows significant lattice-preferred orientation, the fast diffusion direction will render post-perovskite up to four orders of magnitude weaker than perovskite. The presence of weak post-perovskite strongly increases the heat flux across the core–mantle boundary and alters the geotherm. It also provides an explanation for laterally varying viscosity in the lowermost mantle, as required by long-period geoid models. Moreover, the behaviour of very weak post-perovskite can reconcile seismic observation of a D′′ reflector with recent experiments showing that the width of the perovskite-to-post-perovskite transition is too wide to cause sharp reflectors. We suggest that the observed sharp D′′ reflector is caused by a rapid change in seismic anisotropy. Once sufficient perovskite has transformed into post-perovskite, post-perovskite becomes interconnected and strain is partitioned into this weaker phase. At this point, the weaker post-perovskite will start to deform rapidly, thereby developing a strong crystallographic texture. We show that the expected seismic contrast between the deformed perovskite-plus-post-perovskite assemblage and the overlying isotropic perovskite-plus-post-perovskite assemblage is consistent with seismic observations.