Complex phase distribution and seismic velocity structure of the transition zone: convection model predictions for a magnesium-endmember olivine-pyroxene mantle

Michael H.G. Jacobs (1) , Arie P. van den Berg (2)

1 Institut fur Metallurgie
2 Department Theoretical Geophysics

We have investigated the complex spatial distribution of mineral phases in the Earth's upper mantle, resulting from lateral variations of temperature in a convecting mantle, through numerical modelling of mantle convection. Our convection model includes a self-consistent thermodynamic description for an olivine-pyroxene composition in the SiO, MgO system. The thermodynamic model is based on lattice vibrations and allows for the calculation of thermophysical properties as well as seismic wavespeeds.

Mots clés: mantle transition zone; mineral physics; compressible mantle convection; seismic reflectivity

Domaines: Sciences de la Terre

Michael H.G. Jacobs, Arie P. van den Berg. Complex phase distribution and seismic velocity structure of the transition zone: convection model predictions for a magnesium-endmember olivine-pyroxene mantle. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 2011, ⟨10.1016/j.pepi.2011.02.008⟩. ⟨hal-00748752⟩