Low melt viscosity enables melt doublets above the 410-km discontinuity

Longjian Xie (), Denis Andrault, Takashi Yoshino, Cunrui Han, James O. S. Hammond, Fang Xu, Bin Zhao, Oliver T. Lord, Yingwei Fei, Simon Falvard, Sho Kakizawa, Noriyoshi Tsujino, Yuji Higo, Laura Henry, Nicolas Guignot and David P. Dobson ()
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Longjian Xie: Center for High Pressure Science & Technology Advanced Research
Denis Andrault: Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, IRD, OPGC, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans
Takashi Yoshino: Okayama University
Cunrui Han: School of Natural Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London
James O. S. Hammond: School of Natural Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London
Fang Xu: Zhejiang University
Bin Zhao: Okayama University
Oliver T. Lord: University of Bristol
Yingwei Fei: Carnegie Institution for Science
Simon Falvard: Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, IRD, OPGC, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans
Sho Kakizawa: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute
Noriyoshi Tsujino: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute
Yuji Higo: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute
Laura Henry: Gif-sur-Yvette
Nicolas Guignot: Gif-sur-Yvette
David P. Dobson: University College London

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Seismic and magnetotelluric studies suggest hydrous silicate melts atop the 410 km discontinuity form 30–100 km thick layers. Importantly, in some regions, two layers are observed. These stagnant layers are related to their comparable density to the surrounding mantle, but their formation mechanisms and detailed structures remain unclear. Here we report a large decrease of silicate melt viscosity at ~14 GPa, from 96(5) to 11.7(6) mPa⋅s, as water content increases from 15.5 to 31.8 mol% H₂O. Such low viscosities facilitate rapid segregation of melt, which would typically prevent thick layer accumulation. Our 1D finite element simulations show that continuous dehydration melting of upwelling mantle material produces a primary melt layer above 410 km and a secondary layer at the depth of equal mantle-melt densities. These layers can merge into a single thick layer under low density contrasts or high upwelling rates, explaining both melt doublets and thick single layers.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58518-7

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