Oxygen isotope fractionation in mantle minerals

The increment method is adopted to calculate oxygen isotope fractionation factors for mantle minerals, particularly for the polymorphic phases of MgSiO₃ and Mg₂SiO₄. The results predict the following sequence of¹⁸O-enrichment:pyroxene (Mg, Fe, Ca)₂Si₂O₆>olivine (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄ > spinel (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄> ilmenite (Mg, Fe, Ca) SiO₃>perovskite (Mg, Fe, Ca) SiO₃. The calculated fractionations for the calcite-perovskite (CaTiO₃) System are in excellent agreement with the experimental calibrations. If there would be complete isotopic equilibration in the mantle, the spinel-structured silicates in the transition zone are predicted to be enriched in¹⁸O relative to the perovskite-structured silicates in the lower mantle but depleted in¹⁸O relative to olivines and pyroxenes in the upper mantle. The oxygen isotope layering of the mantle might result from differences in the chemical composition and crystal structure of mineral phases at different mantle depths. Assuming isotopic equilibrium on a whole earth scale, the chemical structure of the Earth’s interior can be described by the following sequence of¹⁸O-enrichment:upper crust>lower crust>upper mantle>transition zone>lower mantle>core. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

Shear localisation in upper mantle peridotites

Upper mantle peridotite bodies at the earth's surface contain relict structures and microstructures which provide direct information on the role and the mechanisms of shear localisation in the upper mantle. Deformation which occurred at high temperatures (T>950±50°C) is relatively homogeneous within domains ranging in scale from a few kilometres to a few tens of kilometres. Below 950±50°C strain is localised into centimetre to several hundred metre wide shear zones which commonly contain hydrated mylonitic peridotites. The microstructures developed in the peridotites suggest there is a correlation between the occurrence of shear localisation and the occurrence of strain softening and brittle deformation processes. The most important strain softening processes are inferred to be structural and reaction induced softening. Structural softening processes include dynamic recrystallisation and strain-induced transitions from dislocation creep to some form of grain-size-sensitive (GSS) creep. Reaction induced softening is related to the formation of fine grained polyphase reaction products which deform by GSS creep and the formation of weak sheet silicates such as phlogopite, chlorite, talc and antigorite. From experimental studies these softening processes and brittle deformation processes are inferred to occur mainly at temperatures less than about 910±160°C. This temperature range is inferred to be a significant rheological transition in the upper mantle. Below 910±160°C deformation during orogenesis may be accommodated by an anastomosing network of hydrated mylonitic shear zones with a distinct, perhaps weak, rheology. At higher temperatures strain is accommodated in much wider deformation zones.On the scale of the lithosphere the degree of localisation may be different to that determined at the scale of the periodotite massif. An anastomosing network of hundred metre wide mylonitic shear zones forming 0.05–0.3 by volume fraction of the mantle lithosphere atT<950°C could accommodate inhomogeneous or homogeneous bulk deformation depending on the spatial distribution and ordering of the mylonite zones. The higher temperature deformation at deeper levels in the mantle could be markedly inhomogeneous being concentrated in shear zones with widths in the range of 2–20 km, alternatively these zones may widen significantly during deformation, resulting in a decrease in the degree of localisation with increasing bulk strain.     

Rounded mineral inclusions in upper mantle peridotite

Mantle-derived peridotite xenoliths contain abundant olivine with rounded spinel and orthopyroxene inclusions, and orthopyroxene with rounded olivine and spinel inclusions. The shape-change of spinel, olivine and orthopyroxene inclusions from the primarily polyhedral outline to the spherical outline is governed by interfacial diffusion of oxygen in spinel (the most sluggish atom) due to reduction of total interfacial energy of the host-inclusion system.The critical radius of maximum rounded inclusions of spinel in olivine is a function of temperature and annealing time. Assuming that the activation energy for the interfacial diffusion is 40–70 kcal mol^?1 and that the annealing time for the spinel lherzolite from Salt Lake Crater in Hawaii is 100 Ma, the annealing times for perioditites under the island arcs of Japan are estimated to be 1–10 Ma.     

Low-degree melting of a metasomatized lithospheric mantle for the origin of Cenozoic Yulong monzogranite-porphyry,east Tibet: Geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic constraints

SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating, mineral chemical, element geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic data have been determined for the Yulong monzogranite-porphyry in the eastern Tibet, China. The Yulong porphyry was emplaced into Triassic strata at about 39 Ma. The rocks are weakly peraluminous and show shoshonitic affinity, i.e., alkalis-rich, high K₂O contents with high K₂O / Na₂O ratios, enrichment in LREE and LILE. They also show some affinities with the adakite, e.g., high SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, and low MgO contents, depleted in Y and Yb, and enrichment in Sr with high Sr / Y and La / Yb ratios, and no Eu anomalies. The Yulong porphyry has radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr / ⁸⁶Sr (0.7063–0.7070) and unradiogenic ¹⁴³Nd / ¹⁴⁴Nd (ε_Nd = − 2.0 to − 3.0) ratios. The Pb isotopic compositions of feldspar phenocrysts separated from the Yulong porphyry show a narrow range of ²⁰⁶Pb / ²⁰⁴Pb ratios (18.71–18.82) and unusually radiogenic ²⁰⁷Pb / ²⁰⁴Pb (15.65–15.67) and ²⁰⁸Pb / ²⁰⁴Pb (38.87–39.00) ratios. In situ Hf isotopic composition of zircons that have been SHRIMP U–Pb dated is characterized by clearly positive initial ε_Hf values, ranging from + 3.1 to + 5.9, most between + 4 and + 5. Phenocryst clinopyroxene geothermometry of the Yulong porphyry indicates that the primary magmas had anomalously high temperature (> 1200 °C). The source depth for the Yulong porphyry is at least 100 km inferred by the metasomatic volatile phase (phlogopite–carbonate) relations. Detailed geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions not only rule out fractional crystallization or assimilation-fractional crystallization processes, but also deny the possibility of partial melting of subducted oceanic crust or basaltic lower crust. Instead, low degree (1–5%) partial melting of a metasomatized lithosphere (phlogopite–garnet clinopyroxenite) is compatible with the data. This example gives a case study that granite can be derived directly by partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle, which is important to understand the source and origin of diverse granites.     

Laboratory electrical conductivity measurements on mantle relevant minerals

The influence of environmental conditions and the thermodynamic parameters which may determine the bulk electrical conductivity of, for instance, basaltic rocks are briefly discussed. At present it is not known to what extent these numerous variables determine the electrical conductivity of rocks quantitatively, since all too many laboratory measurements did not account for the required number of variables to define the system. Thus it is difficult to decide whether or not laboratory measurements on rocks have duplicated their in-situ electrical conductivity.One approach is to calculate the bulk conductivity of rocks from conductivities of constituent minerals, since it is much easier to define the thermodynamic equilibrium conditions for a single phase system. Therefore, laboratory data of the electrical conductivity of minerals, i.e. olivines and pyroxenes, are discussed to some extent particularly in the context of point-defect concentrations as a function of pO₂ and the chemical activitiesa of the binary components of the minerals.The evaluation of a quantitative relationship requires a careful sample characterization. To find a basis for a reasonable interpretation of in-situ resistivity data, the test samples should be selected in regard to those conditions which are believed to exist in the appropriate layer of the earth.     

Anisotropic models of the upper mantle

Long period Rayleigh wave and Love wave dispersion data, particularly for oceanic areas, have not been simultaneously satisfied by an isotropic structure. In this paper available phase and group velocity data are inverted by a procedure which includes the effects of transverse anisotropy, anelastic dispersion, sphericity, and gravity. We assume that the surface wave data represents an azimuthal average of actual velocities. Thus, we can treat the mantle as transversely isotropic. The resulting models for average Earth, average ocean, and oceanic regions divided according to the age of the ocean floor, are quite different from previous results which ignore the above effects. The models show a low-velocity zone with age dependent anisotropy and velocities higher than derived in previous surface wave studies. The correspondence between the anisotropy variation with age and a physical model based on flow aligned olivine is suggestive. For most of the Earth SH > SV in the vicinity of the low-velocity zone. Neat the East Pacific Rise, however, SV > SH at depth, consistent with ascending flow. Anisotropy is as important as temperature in causing radial and lateral variations in velocity. The models have a high velocity nearly isotropic layer at the top of the mantle that thickens with age. This layer defines the LID, or seismic lithosphere. In the Pacific, the LID thickens with age to a maximum thickness of ～50 km. This thickness is comparable to the thickness of the elastic lithosphere. The LID thickness is thinner than derived using isotropic or pseudo-isotropic procedures. A new model for average Earth is obtained which includes a thin LID. This model extends the fit of a PREM, type model to shorter period surface waves.     

Seismic anisotropy of upper mantle in eastern China

Based on the polarization analysis of teleseismic SKS waveform data recorded at 65 seismic stations which respectively involved in the permanent and temporary broadband seismograph networks deployed in eastern China, the SKS fast-wave direction and the delay time between the fast and slow shear waves at each station were determined by use of SC method and the stacking analysis method, and then the image of upper mantle anisotropy in eastern China was acquired. In the study region, from south to north, the fast-wave polarization directions are basically EW in South China, gradually clockwise rotate to NWW-SEE in North China, then to NW-SE in Northeast China. The delay time falls into the interval [0.41 s, 1.52 s]. Anisotropic characteristics in eastern China indicate that the upper mantle anisotropy is possibly caused by both the collision between the Indian and Eurasian Plates and the subduction from the Pacific and Philippine Sea Plates to the Eurasian Plate. The collision between two plates made the crust of western China thickening and uplifting and the material eastwards extruding, and then caused the upper mantle flow eastwards and southeastwards. The subduction of Pacific Plate and Philippine Sea Plate has resulted in the lithosphere and the asthenosphere deformation in eastern China, and made the alignment of upper mantle peridotite lattice parallel to the deformation direction. The fast-wave polarization direction is consistent with the direction of lithosphere extension and the GPS velocity direction, implying that the crust-upper mantle deformation is possibly a vertically coherent deformation. Supported by Special Project for the Fundamental R & D of Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration (Grant No. DQJB06B06), Special Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2006FY110100), China Digital Earthquake Observation Network Project “North China Seismic Array”, and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40334041 and 40774037)     

On stochastic near-critical oscillations in the upper mantle

The problem of the determination of thermomechanical conditions in the upper mantle under a moving lithospheric plate at a given shear stress does not have a unique solution. Given a fixed heat flux from the lower mantle, two types of motion are possible in the mantle: subcritical (slower and colder) and supercritical (faster and hotter). In this work, it is shown that, if these modes are rather close to each other (in the near-critical state of the mantle), transitions from one mode to another and backward are possible. The calculated period of a change in the mantle state amounts to ～0.3 Myr for the Pacific plate. The oscillatory regime of the mantle state can manifest itself in the activity pulsations of hotspots located near fast separating mid-ocean ridges.     

Models of electric conductivity in the upper mantle

Summary The accessible data of the apparent resistivity _T(T) were collected and supplemented by the spectral analysis of daily means of geomagnetic components observed at world geomagnetic observatories. The data were least-squares fitted; four models of the resistivity in the upper mantle which agree with the experimental data were obtained by solving the inverse problem using Marquardt's gradient-expansion algorithm.     

Pa andSa waves and the upper mantle

Summary This investigation is based on records of 96 earthquakes withPa andSa written by the Press-Ewing instruments at Uppsala in the interval June 1961–December 1962.Pa andSa waves are observed for all earthquake regions, irrespective of distance, focal depth or path properties. They have significantly higher velocities under continents than under oceans, which demonstrates corresponding differences in the upper mantle. Continental velocities are 8.35 km/sec (Pa) and 4.56 km/sec (Sa), oceanic velocities 8.01 km/sec (Pa) and 4.45 km/sec (Sa). The most frequent periods are 10 sec (Pa) and 20 sec (Sa). They are independent of distance forPa but increase with distance forSa. The best developedPa andSa are obtained for earthquakes at focal depths less than about 60 km. The particle motion ofSa may be anything from pureSV to pureSH motion and has high correlation to the particle motion ofS. The apparent angles of emergence (in average 51° forPa and 54° forSa) vary with distance. On the basis of our observations it is suggested thatPa andSa propagate by multiple reflections under grazing incidence under the Moho discontinuity.

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Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Untersuchung gründet sich auf die Registrierungen von 96 Erdbeben mitPa- undSa-Wellen, die mit Hilfe der Press-Ewing Instrumente zu Uppsala im Zeitraum Juli 1961–Dezember 1962 aufgenommen wurden. DiePa- undSa-Wellen sind für alle seismischen Regionen beobachtet worden, unabhängig von Entfernung, Herdtiefe oder Wellenweg. Sie haben bedeutend höhere Geschwindigkeiten unter den Kontinenten als unter den Ozeanen, was einen entsprechenden Unterschied im oberen Erdmantel beweist. Die kontinentalen Geschwindigkeiten betragen 8.35 km/sec (Pa) und 4.56 km/sec (Sa), die ozeanischen Geschwindigkeiten 8.01 km/sec (Pa) und 4.45 km/sec (Sa). Die am häufigsten vorkommenden Perioden betragen 10 sec (Pa) und 20 sec (Sa). Sie sind unabhängig von der Entfernung fürPa aber wachsen mit der Entfernung fürSa. Die am besten entwickeltenPa- undSa-Wellen werden für Erdbeben mit kleinerer Herdtiefe als rund 60 km beobachtet. FürSa wird jede beliebige Orbitalbewegung zwischenSV undSH beobachtet. Sie hat eine hohe Korrelation mit der Orbitalbewegung vonS. Die scheinbaren Emergenzwinkel (durchschnittlich 51° fürPa und 54° fürSa) variieren mit der Entfernung. Auf Grund unserer Beobachtungen wird die Hypothese aufgestellt, dass sich diePa-undSa-Wellen durch Mehrfachreflexionen, bei tangentialem Einfall, unter der Moho-Diskontinuität ausbreiten.

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Resumen La presente investigación está basada en los sismogramas de 96 terremotos, que muestranPa ySa, registrados por los sismógrafos de Uppsala (Press-Ewing), durante el periodo Junio 1961 a Diciembre 1962. Las fasesPa ySa se observan en todas las regiones sismicas, independientemente de la distancia, de la profundidad focal ó de las propiedades de la trayectoria. Tienen velocidades significativamente mayores bajo continentes que bajo los océanos, lo que demuestra la existencia de diferencias en el manto superior. Las velocidades continentales son 8.35 km/seg (Pa) y 4.56 km/seg (Sa) y las oceánicas 8.01 km/seg (Pa) y 4.45 km/seg (Sa). Los periodos mas frecuentes son 10 segundos paraPa y 20 segundos paraSa. Tales periodos son independientes de la distancia en el caso dePa pero crecen con ella paraSa. Las fasesPa ySa mejor desarrolladas se obtienen para terremotos cuya profundidad focal es inferior a los 60 kilómetros. El movimiento de la particula del suelo debido aSa puede ser de cualquier tipo, desde puroSV a puroSH, y muestra gran correlación con el movimiento de la particula deS. Los ángulos de emergencia aparentes (de promedio 51° paraPa y 54° paraSa) varian con la distancia. Basándonos en nuestras observaciones sugerimos quePa ySa se propagan por reflexión múltiple, bajo incidencia rozante bajo la discontinuidad de Mohorovii.

     

A model for the layered upper mantle

Numerical modeling of mantle convection by Liu (1994, Science, 264: 1904–1907) favors a two-layer convection, if the results are reinterpreted for the correct phase relations in (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄. The resulting chemical isolation of the upper and lower mantle suggests a highly differentiated and layered upper mantle to account for the discrepancy between the observed compositions of mantle xenoliths and the cosmic abundances of elements. It is shown that a layered upper mantle with a hidden reservoir can have a structure consistent with the observed seismic velocity profiles and an average bulk composition corresponding to the cosmic abundances. The evolution of the upper mantle and the origin of komatiites are discussed in the context of the proposed model.     

Anomalous upper mantle beneath the Australian-Antarctic discordance

Within the Australian-Antarctic discordant zone, residual depth anomalies approach 1000 m. In sea floor younger than 10 Ma that is more than 500 m deeper than expected, Rayleigh wave phase velocities are significantly faster than in sea floor of comparable age in the Pacific. In this area, the shear wave velocity in the 20–40 km depth range is unusually fast, indicating that the lithosphere develops more rapidly than usual from an asthenosphere that is perhaps cooler than average. In sea floor that is older than 10 Ma, phase velocities are anomalously fast and independent of the residual depth. Beneath this older sea floor, the low-velocity zone in the oceanic mantle is much less pronounced than beneath sea floor of comparable age in the Pacific.     

Source depletion and extent of melting in the Tongan sub-arc mantle

The fluid immobile High Field Strength Elements (HFSE) Nb and Ta can be used to distinguish between the effects of variable extents of melting and prior source depletion of the Tongan sub-arc mantle. Melting of spinel lherzolite beneath the Lau Basin back-arc spreading centres has the ability to fractionate Nb from Ta due to the greater compatibility of the latter in clinopyroxene. The identified spatial variation in plate velocities and separation of melt extraction zones, combined with extremely depleted lavas make Tonga an ideal setting in which to test models for arc melt generation and the role of back-arc magmatism.We present new data acquired by laser ablation-ICPMS of fused sample glasses produced without the use of a melt fluxing agent. The results show an arc trend towards strongly sub-chondritic Nb/Ta (< 17) with values as low as 7.2. Melting models show that large degree melts of depleted MORB mantle fail to reproduce the observed Nb/Ta. Alternatively, incorporation of residual back-arc mantle that has undergone less than 1% melting into the sub-arc melting regime reproduces arc values. However, the extent of partial melting required to produce the composition of the Lau Basin back-arc basalts averages 7%. This apparent discrepancy can be explained if only the lowermost 4 km of the residua from the mantle melt column beneath the back-arc is added to the source of arc magmas. We have identified that the degree of arc/back-arc coupling displayed in the rock record provides an index of the depth of hydrous melting beneath the arc. In this case, this would imply a depth of ~ 75 km for generation of arc magmas, indicating that hydrous melting in the mantle wedge is triggered by the breakdown of hydrous phases in the subducting slab.     

The upper mantle discontinuities in western Canada fromPs conversions

We have investigated variations in the travel times ofPs converted phases from the upper mantle 410 and 660 km discontinuities recorded on the western stations of the Canadian National Seismograph Network using a variant of the technique introduced byVinnik (1977). Clear and unambiguous signals for both discontinuities are observed at 8 of the 11 stations considered and exhibit variations which correlate well with regional tectonic setting. Stations located in regions which are currently tectonically active are characterized by largerPs arrival times relative to directP than those situated on the North American craton. In addition the difference in arrival times between the 410 and 660Ps phases suggest that most of the variation is the result of structure above the transition zone but below the Moho. Stations located in the Cascadia subduction zone generally exhibit poorer signal quality than those elsewhere, a feature that may result from upper mantle velocity heterogeneity, discontinuity topography or a combination of both. A detailed investigation of possible lateral variations in discontinuity topography associated with subduction awaits the compilation of a more comprehensive data set which will permit the monitoring of an azimuthal dependence in signal.     

The upper mantle anisotropy in Yunnan area, China

Introduction The study of the upper mantle anisotropy in Yunnan area benefits the research of deep structure of Sichuan-Yunnan active block and the characteristics of deformation field, the analysis of the coupling relations among different layers of the earth and the promotion of understanding the relation between anisotropy and stress-strain field and geological construction processes. The research results would be of important significance for the interpretation of movement of plates, the …     

On water in nominally anhydrous minerals from mantle peridotites and magmatic rocks

Trace amount of water associated with the lattice defects of nominally anhydrous minerals (NAMs) can be measured using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Lots of data on water in NAMs from different lithologies, especially mantle peridotite xenoliths, have been published. The water distribution in olivine from peridotite xenoliths often displays a diffusion profile with high water concentration in the core and low at the rim, which indicates water loss via diffusion during the ascent of host magma. On the other hand, water is homogeneously distributed in pyroxene and its concentration is typically interpreted to represent a mantle value. The water concentration of magma in equilibrium with NAM can be estimated using specific partition coefficient, from which the water content of parental magma and the mantle source can be inferred. The accuracy of this method, however, depends on the selection of appropriate partition coefficient for the system. Using hydrogen isotope compositions and H₂O/Ce ratios of mantle NAMs, water source regions can be traced and water heterogeneity can be mapped in the upper mantle. Water plays an important role in the stability of cratonic mantle. The water contents and vertical distribution patterns can be significantly different among different cratonic mantles, which may result from different geologic activities. However, the mantle-plume interaction may not necessarily result in significant change of water content in cratonic mantle. The estimation of the water content in the upper mantle is still largely based on geochemical models due to the limitations of data on water in mantle NAMs.     

MTS studies on the upper mantle conductivity in China

Based on the data from more than 200 MTS sites distributed within different areas of the Chinese continent, general characteristics of upper mantle conductivity have been described. At least two conductive layers have been found in the upper mantle of some areas. The first is thin with a resistivity of a modicum to few tens m; the second one is thicker with a resistivity of one to m. Nearly 300 heat-flow values indicate that there exists an exponential correspondent relationship between a depth of the upper mantle conductive layer with a thickness and an average value of heat flow. Based on the above results, the top depth map of this upper mantle conductive layer has been outlined for parts of the Chinese continent. This conductive layer is basically consistent with the low velocity zone in the upper mantle, and Cenozoic tectonism and current seismicity are significantly related to the variation of depth of the conductive layer in the upper mantle. The possible origins of the conductive layers in the upper mantle have been discussed here.     

宁夏地区上地幔地震各向异性特征

利用宁夏6个三分向宽频带数字地震台记录的震中距在85°—110°,震级大于6级的远震SKS波震相作了偏振分析,采用Silver-Chan方法求得了分裂参数,获得了宁夏地区上地幔各向异性图像.结果表明,宁夏地区上地幔各向异性普遍存在,本区盐池台(YCI)所在的鄂尔多斯块体下方的各向异性可归结为"化石"各向异性,其它地区的各向异性特征则反映了正在进行的构造运动,由此可为贺兰山脉东西两侧复杂的运动图像提供深部证据.最后推测本区的青藏高原东北缘—阿拉善块体及银川断陷区壳、幔的运动是耦合的,而鄂尔多斯块体地区壳、幔的运动型式尚不明朗.     

Dynamical stability of convection cells in the upper mantle

Summary A two-dimensional flow model of an incompressible fluid with constant viscosity has been used to study the changes in the large-scale flow pattern (aspect ratio 4). Implications for convection in the Earth's mantle are discussed.

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