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

M. W. Ammann (), J. P. Brodholt (), J. Wookey and D. P. Dobson
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M. W. Ammann: University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
J. P. Brodholt: University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
J. Wookey: University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS6 6LL, UK
D. P. Dobson: University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

Nature, 2010, vol. 465, issue 7297, 462-465

Abstract: Mantle convection Michael Ammann and colleagues have applied first-principle methods to calculate absolute diffusion rates in the mineral post-perovskite in the conditions prevailing in the Earth's lower mantle. They 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. This could render post-perovskite up to four orders of magnitude weaker than perovskite, and could reconcile seismic observations 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.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09052

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