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Petrological layering induced by an endothermic phase transition in the Earth's mantle
Author(s) -
Mambole Axel,
Fleitout Luce
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2002gl014674
Subject(s) - geology , transition zone , mantle (geology) , crust , layering , endothermic process , lithosphere , oceanic crust , geophysics , phase transition , peridotite , petrology , buoyancy , tectonics , thermodynamics , subduction , seismology , chemistry , botany , physics , organic chemistry , adsorption , biology
We investigate the effect of an endothermic phase transition on the average petrology of the mantle as function of depth. We study chemical differentiation using a numerical model in which the oceanic lithosphere, comprised of a crustal layer overlying depleted harzburgite, is injected at the ridges. Three families of tracers are used, each one with its own buoyancy, to distinguish oceanic crust, harzburgite and peridotite. The depth of the phase transition and the Clapeyron slope are assumed to be the same whatever the petrological component of the mantle. Velocities are imposed at the surface to mimic plate tectonics. The viscosity is depth and temperature dependent. The negative Clapeyron slope tends to induce a segregation of the heavy material below the phase transition and of the light material above the phase transition with a compositional jump across the transition zone.