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Effect of iron oxidation state on the electrical conductivity of the Earth’s lower mantle

Author

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  • V. Potapkin

    (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, BP 220, Grenoble F-38043, France
    Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth)

  • C. McCammon

    (Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth)

  • K. Glazyrin

    (Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth)

  • A. Kantor

    (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, BP 220, Grenoble F-38043, France
    Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth)

  • I. Kupenko

    (Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth)

  • C. Prescher

    (Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth)

  • R. Sinmyo

    (Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth)

  • G. V. Smirnov

    (National Research Center ‘Kurchatov Institute’)

  • A. I. Chumakov

    (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, BP 220, Grenoble F-38043, France
    National Research Center ‘Kurchatov Institute’)

  • R. Rüffer

    (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, BP 220, Grenoble F-38043, France)

  • L. Dubrovinsky

    (Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth)

Abstract

Iron can adopt different spin states in the lower mantle. Previous studies indicate that the dominant lower-mantle phase, magnesium silicate perovskite (which contains at least half of its iron as Fe3+), undergoes a Fe3+ high-spin to low-spin transition that has been suggested to cause seismic velocity anomalies and a drop in laboratory-measured electrical conductivity. Here we apply a new synchrotron-based method of Mössbauer spectroscopy and show that Fe3+ remains in the high-spin state in lower-mantle perovskite at conditions throughout the lower mantle. Electrical conductivity measurements show no conductivity drop in samples with high Fe3+, suggesting that the conductivity drop observed previously on samples with high Fe2+ is due to a transition of Fe2+ to the intermediate-spin state. Correlation of transport and elastic properties of lower-mantle perovskite with electromagnetic and seismic data may provide a new probe of heterogeneity in the lower mantle.

Suggested Citation

  • V. Potapkin & C. McCammon & K. Glazyrin & A. Kantor & I. Kupenko & C. Prescher & R. Sinmyo & G. V. Smirnov & A. I. Chumakov & R. Rüffer & L. Dubrovinsky, 2013. "Effect of iron oxidation state on the electrical conductivity of the Earth’s lower mantle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-6, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2436
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2436
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