Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2016

Presentation information

International Session (Oral)

Symbol S (Solid Earth Sciences) » S-GC Geochemistry

[S-GC16] Volatile Cycles in the Deep Earth - from Subduction Zones to the Mantle and Core

Wed. May 25, 2016 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM 304 (3F)

Convener:*Hirochika Sumino(Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo), Takeshi Hanyu(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Department of Solid Earth Geochemistry), Yuji Sano(Division of Ocean and Earth Systems, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo), Colin Jackson(Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington), Chair:Hirochika Sumino(Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo), Takeshi Hanyu(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Department of Solid Earth Geochemistry)

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM

[SGC16-08] Formation of a hydration zone at the bottom of the lower mantle

★Invited papers

*Eiji Ohtani1, Izumi Mashino1, Itaru Ohira1 (1.Department of Earth and Planetary Materials Science, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University)

Keywords:Lower mantle, Core-mantle boundary, delta-AlOOH, Phase H, Hydration, Low velocity region

One of the major water carriers into the lower mantle is delta-AlOOH-phase H MgSiO2(OH)2 solid solution (aluminous phase H) [1]. Our experiments revealed that the solid solution containing water can be stable to the core-mantle boundary region, 120 GPa and 2500 K [2, 3], which is the condition along the normal mantle geotherm. The core-mantle boundary is the region with a large temperature gradient, thus dehydration or dehydration melting is inevitable at the core-mantle boundary.
There are three possibilities on the roles of this hydrous phase at the core-mantle boundary region: First, the reaction of this hydrous phase with the metallic core to introduce hydrogen into the core. Second, dehydration melting at the core-mantle boundary which might create a partial molten low velocity zone at the core-mantle boundary. Third, formation of a hydrated zone at the base of the lower mantle by suppling fluid dehydrated at the hot core-mantle boundary. Here, we consider a possible role of this hydrous phase for formation of a hydration region at the base of the lower mantle, the third process listed above.
Ohira et al. [2] revealed that hydration of aluminous bridgmanite creates delta-AlOOH phase and MgSiO3 bridgmanite containing smaller amount of Al2O3. This hydration reaction can occur by suppling fluid dehydrated at the hot core-mantle boundary. Mashino et al. [4] measured the sound velocity of delta-AlOOH at high pressure and revealed that both Vp and Vs of this phase is greater than the major transition zone minerals such as ringwoodite and majorite, whereas the velocities are lower than bridgmanite at the bottom of the lower mantle. Drop of sound velocities can be expected by formation of delta-AlOOH phase by consuming Al2O3 in bridgmanite at the base of the lower mantle. Decrease of the sound velocity can be accounted for the low velocity nature at the core-mantle boundary. Thus, the bottom of the lower mantle may be a second largest water reservoir next to the mantle transition zone.
References:
[1] Ohtani (2015). Hydrous minerals and the storage of water in the deep mantle. Chemical Geology 418, 6–15.
[2] Sano et al. (2008). Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L03303, doi:10.1029/2007GL031718
[3] Ohira et al. (2014). Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 401, 12–17, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2014.05.059
[4] Mashino, I., M. Murakami, E. Ohtani (2016). Jour Geophys. Res., 10.1002/2015JB012477