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Mixing of heterogeneities in the mantle: Effect of viscosity differences
Author(s) -
Manga Michael
Publication year - 1996
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 - 10.1029/96gl00242
Subject(s) - mantle (geology) , viscosity , geology , geophysics , mixing (physics) , mechanics , thermodynamics , mineralogy , physics , quantum mechanics
The effect of viscosity variations associated with large scale chemical heterogeneities on mixing in the mantle is studied for a model two‐dimensional problem. Low viscosity regions are rapidly deformed, develop long tendrils, and are entrained towards regions of surface divergence. Very viscous regions are only slowly stretched; thus, geochemical reservoirs can persist relatively undisturbed for long periods of time if they are > O (10–100) times more viscous than the surrounding mantle. High viscosity ratio blobs have a tendency to aggregate, leading to the formation of large scale heterogeneities from smaller ones.