Elasticity of (Mg, Fe)(Si, Al)O3-perovskite at high pressure

The most abundant mineral on Earth has a perovskite crystal structure and a chemistry that is dominated by MgSiO₃ with the next most abundant cations probably being aluminum and ferric iron. The dearth of experimental elasticity data for this chemically complex mineral limits our ability to calculate model seismic velocities for the lower mantle. We have calculated the single crystal elastic moduli (c_ij) for (Mg, Fe^3 +)(Si, Al)O₃ perovskite using density functional theory in order to investigate the effect of chemical variations and spin state transitions of the Fe³⁺ ions. Considering the favored coupled substitution of Mg²⁺-Si^4 + by Fe³⁺-Al³⁺, we find that the effect of ferric iron on seismic properties is comparable with the same amount of ferrous iron. Ferric iron lowers the elastic moduli relative to the Al charge-coupled substitution. Substitution of Fe³⁺ for Al³⁺, giving rise to an Fe/Mg ratio of 6%, causes 1.8% lower longitudinal velocity and 2.5% lower shear velocity at ambient pressure and 1.1% lower longitudinal velocity and 1.8% lower shear velocity at 142 GPa. The spin state of the iron for this composition has a relatively small effect (< 0.5% variation) on both bulk modulus and shear modulus.     

In situ measurements of sound velocities and densities across the orthopyroxene → high-pressure clinopyroxene transition in MgSiO3 at high pressure

Using acoustic measurement interfaced with a large volume multi-anvil apparatus in conjunction with in situ X-radiation techniques, we are able to measure the density and elastic wave velocities (V_P and V_S) for both ortho- and high-pressure clino-MgSiO₃ polymorphs in the same experimental run. The elastic bulk and shear moduli of the unquenchable high-pressure clinoenstatite phase were measured within its stability field for the first time. The measured density contrast associated with the phase transition OEN → HP-CEN is 2.6-2.9% in the pressure of 7-9 GPa, and the corresponding velocity jumps are 3-4% for P waves and 5-6% for S waves. The elastic moduli of the HP-CEN phase are K_S=156.7(8) GPa, G = 98.5(4) GPa and their pressure derivatives are K_S′=5.5(3) and G′ = 1.5(1) at a pressure of 6.5 GPa, room temperature. In addition, we observed anomalous elastic behavior in orthoenstatite at pressure above 9 GPa at room temperature. Both elastic wave velocities exhibited softening between 9 and 13-14 GPa, which we suggest is associated with a transition to a metastable phase intermediate between OEN and HP-CEN.     

Solubility of FeO in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite and the post-perovskite phase transition

Phase relations in Mg_0.5Fe_0.5SiO₃ and Mg_0.25Fe_0.75SiO₃ were investigated in a pressure range from 72 to 123 GPa on the basis of synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements in situ at high-pressure and -temperature in a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell (LHDAC). Results demonstrate that Mg_0.5Fe_0.5SiO₃ perovskite is formed as a single phase at 85–108 GPa and 1800–2330 K, indicating a high solubility of FeO in (Mg,Fe)SiO₃ perovskite at high pressures. Post-perovskite appears coexisting with perovskite in Mg_0.5Fe_0.5SiO₃ above 106 GPa at 1410 K, the condition very close to the post-perovskite phase transition boundary in pure MgSiO₃. The coexistence of perovskite and post-perovskite was observed to 123 GPa. In addition, post-perovskite was formed coexisting with perovskite also in Mg_0.25Fe_0.75SiO₃ bulk composition at 106–123 GPa. In contrast to earlier experimental and theoretical studies, these results show that incorporation of FeO stabilizes perovskite at higher pressures. This could be due to a larger ionic radius of Fe²⁺ ion, which is incompatible with a small Mg²⁺ site in the post-perovskite phase.     

‘Thailand was a desert' during the mid‐Cretaceous: Equatorward shift of the subtropical high‐pressure belt indicated by eolian deposits (Phu Thok Formation) in the Khorat Basin,northeastern Thailand

The Tibetan Plateau is a key factor in controlling the present‐day climate and atmospheric circulation pattern in Asia. The pattern of atmospheric circulation after the uplift of the plateau is well known, whereas direct evidence is lacking regarding the nature of the circulation pattern prior to the uplift. The distribution of desert directly reflects the position of the subtropical high‐pressure belt, and the prevailing surface‐wind pattern recorded in desert deposits reveals the position of its divergence axis. Cretaceous eolian sandstone of the Phu Thok Formation is extensively exposed in the northern Khorat Basin, northeastern Thailand. We conducted a sedimentological study on this formation to reconstruct temporal changes in the latitude of the subtropical high‐pressure belt in low‐latitude Asia during the Cretaceous. Spatio‐temporal changes in the paleo‐wind directions recorded in the Phu Thok Formation reveal that the Khorat Basin mainly belonged to the northeast trade wind belt and subtropical high‐pressure belt was situated to the north of the Khorat Basin during the initial stages of deposition, shifted southward to immediately above the basin during the main phase of deposition, and then shifted northward again to the north of the basin during the final stages of deposition. The paleomagnetic polarity sequence obtained for the Phu Thok Formation comprises three zones of normal polarity and two of reversed polarity, correlating to chrons M1n to C34n of the geomagnetic polarity time scale. This result suggests that the Phu Thok Formation is mid‐Cretaceous in age (from c. 126 Ma to c. 99–93 Ma), similar to the age of eolian sandstone in the Sichuan Basin, southern China (the Jiaguan Formation). These results, in combination with paleo‐wind direction data, suggest the development of low‐latitude desert and an equatorward shift of the subtropical high‐pressure belt (relative to the present‐day) in Asia during the mid‐Cretaceous.