Phase relations in the carbon-saturated C–Mg–Fe–Si–O system and C and Si solubility in liquid Fe at high pressure and temperature: implications for planetary interiors

The phase and melting relations of the C-saturated C–Mg–Fe–Si–O system were investigated at high pressure and temperature to understand the role of carbon in the structure of the Earth, terrestrial planets, and carbon-enriched extraterrestrial planets. The phase relations were studied using two types of experiments at 4 GPa: analyses of recovered samples and in situ X-ray diffractions. Our experiments revealed that the composition of metallic iron melts changes from a C-rich composition with up to about 5 wt.% C under oxidizing conditions (ΔIW = ?1.7 to ?1.2, where ΔIW is the deviation of the oxygen fugacity (fO₂) from an iron-wüstite (IW) buffer) to a C-depleted composition with 21 wt.% Si under reducing conditions (ΔIW < ?3.3) at 4 GPa and 1,873 K. SiC grains also coexisted with the Fe–Si melt under the most reducing conditions. The solubility of C in liquid Fe increased with increasing fO₂, whereas the solubility of Si decreased with increasing fO₂. The carbon-bearing phases were graphite, Fe₃C, SiC, and Fe alloy melt (Fe–C or Fe–Si–C melts) under the redox conditions applied at 4 GPa, but carbonate was not observed under our experimental conditions. The phase relations observed in this study can be applicable to the Earth and other planets. In hypothetical reducing carbon planets (ΔIW < ?6.2), graphite/diamond and/or SiC exist in the mantle, whereas the core would be an Fe–Si alloy containing very small amount of C even in the carbon-enriched planets. The mutually exclusive nature of C and Si may be important also for considering the light elements of the Earth’s core.     

基于边界积分方程方法的弯折断层破裂传播过程控制因素分析

本文利用边界积分方程方法,以基于三角形网格的全空间格林函数及离散积分核计算为基础,进行了最常见的弯折断层的破裂传播过程模拟.为了去除边界积分方程方法中格林函数计算存在的高度奇异性,研究采用分部积分等方法对动力学方程进行了重整化和离散化处理.地震力学过程可以被视为断层由静摩擦转为动摩擦的过程,对于震源破裂过程的动力学模拟,摩擦准则起着重要作用,本研究采用常用的滑动弱化摩擦准则.计算引入Courant-Friedrich-Lewy比值来表达场点的影响,并控制计算的收敛性和稳定性.通过与典型算例的比对,检验了方法的正确性和有效性.地震破裂能否穿越断层弯折部位继续传播是震源动力学研究的重要内容,基于此,本文建立了多种理论弯折断层模型,模拟了断层弯折对地震破裂传播的控制作用,并通过改变断层周边初始应力场、断层弯折角度大小以及滑动弱化距离大小等来分析各个因素对破裂传播的影响.模拟结果表明:断层面上初始破裂区域内外的应力越高,破裂越容易越过断层弯折部位继续传播;初始破裂区域半径越大,或滑动弱化距离越小,破裂也越容易发生,并越过弯折部位继续传播.同样的初始条件,断层弯折角度越大,断层弯折作为障碍体,对破裂传播的阻碍作用越显著.小的弯折角,其破裂传播过程与平面断层差别不明显,基本仍以椭圆方式对称向两侧传播.