Science, Vol.284, No.5415, 782-784, 1999
Thermal equation of state of aluminum-enriched silicate perovskite
Inferences of the chemical homogeneity of Earth's mantle depend on comparing laboratory-derived equations of state of mantle phases with seismically determined properties of the material in situ, A uniform chemical composition of the entire mantle has been found to be consistent with measurements, to date, of these properties for the end-member MgSiO3 perovskite phase. New pressure-volume-temperature data for silicate perovskite containing 5 mole percent Al2O3 has yielded different values of the equation of state parameters, with the bulk modulus being significantly smaller at lower mantle conditions than for aluminum-free perovskite, thus requiring adjustments in other components to match seismic observations.
Keywords:EARTHS LOWER MANTLE;V-T EQUATION;MGSIO3 PEROVSKITE;CRYSTAL-CHEMISTRY;HIGH-PRESSURE;FERRIC IRON;TEMPERATURE;PHASE;STRATIFICATION;DISCONTINUITY