Abstract Davemaoite, that is, CaSiO3perovskite (CaPv), is the third most abundant phase in the lower mantle and exhibits a tetragonal‐cubic phase transition at high pressures and temperatures. The phase boundary in CaPv has recently been proposed to be close to the cold slab adiabat and cause mid‐mantle seismic wave speed anomalies (Thomson et al., 2019,https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586‐019‐1483‐x). This study utilized accurate deep‐learning‐based simulations and thermodynamic integration techniques to compute free energies at temperatures ranging from 300 to 3,000 K and pressures up to 130 GPa. Our results indicate that CaPv exhibits a single cubic phase throughout lower‐mantle conditions. This suggests that the phase diagram proposed by Thomson et al. requires revision, and mid‐mantle seismic anomalies are likely attributable to other mechanisms.
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Discovery of davemaoite, CaSiO 3 -perovskite, as a mineral from the lower mantle
Calcium silicate perovskite, CaSiO 3 , is arguably the most geochemically important phase in the lower mantle, because it concentrates elements that are incompatible in the upper mantle, including the heat-generating elements thorium and uranium, which have half-lives longer than the geologic history of Earth. We report CaSiO 3 -perovskite as an approved mineral (IMA2020-012a) with the name davemaoite. The natural specimen of davemaoite proves the existence of compositional heterogeneity within the lower mantle. Our observations indicate that davemaoite also hosts potassium in addition to uranium and thorium in its structure. Hence, the regional and global abundances of davemaoite influence the heat budget of the deep mantle, where the mineral is thermodynamically stable.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1942042
- PAR ID:
- 10313261
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Science
- Volume:
- 374
- Issue:
- 6569
- ISSN:
- 0036-8075
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Davemaoite (CaSiO3 perovskite) is considered the third most abundant phase in the pyrolytic lower mantle and the second most abundant phase in the subducted mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB). During the partial melting of the pyrolytic upper mantle, incompatible titanium (Ti) becomes enriched in the basaltic magma, forming Ti-rich MORB. Davemaoite is considered an important Ti-bearing mineral in subducted slabs by forming a Ca(Si,Ti)O3 solid solution. However, the crystal structure and compressibility of Ca(Si,Ti)O3 perovskite solid solution at relevant pressure and temperature conditions had not been systematically investigated. In this study, we investigated the structure and equations of state of Ca(Si0.83Ti0.17)O3 and Ca(Si0.75Ti0.25)O3 perovskites at room temperature up to 82 and 64 GPa, respectively, by synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD). We found that both Ca(Si0.83Ti0.17)O3 and Ca(Si0.75Ti0.25)O3 perovskites have a tetragonal structure up to the maximum pressures investigated. Based on the observed data and compared to pure CaSiO3 davemaoite, both Ca(Si0.83Ti0.17)O3 and Ca(Si0.75Ti0.25)O3 perovskites are expected to be less dense up to the core-mantle boundary (CMB), and specifically ~1–2% less dense than CaSiO3 davemaoite in the pressure range of the transition zone (15–25 GPa). Our results suggest that the presence of Ti-bearing davemaoite phases may result in a reduction in the average density of the subducting slabs, which in turn promotes their stagnation in the lower mantle. The presence of low-density Ti-bearing davemaoite phases and subduction of MORB in the lower mantle may also explain the seismic heterogeneity in the lower mantle, such as large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs).more » « less
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