Experimental Studies on Elasticities of Forsterite-Enstatite Composites:Towards an Understanding of the Rules of Mixture

Which rule of mixture is the best for predicting the overall elastic properties of polyphase rocks based on the elastic properties and volume fractions of their constituents? In order to address this question, we sintered forsterite-enstatite polycrystalline aggregates with a varied forsterite volume fraction (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0). Elastic properties (shear, bulk, and Young’s moduli) of these synthesized composites were measured as a function of pressure up to 3.0 GPa in a liquid-medium piston-cylinder apparatus using a high-precision ultrasonic interferometric technique. The experimental data can be much better described by the shear-lag model than by the commonly used simple models such as Voigt, Ruess and Hill averages, Hashin-Shtrikman bounds, Ravichandran bounds, Halpin-Tsai equations, and Paul’s calculations. We attributed this to the fact that the elastic interaction and stress transfer between phases are neglected in all the models except for the shear-lag model. In particular,

High-pressure sound velocity of perovskite-enstatite and the possible composition of the Earth's lower mantle

The compressional sound velocity VP for enstatite of polycrystalline specimens were measured at pressures from 40 to 140 GPa using the optical analytical techniques under shock loading. The dependence of VP (in km/s) on Hugoniot pressure (P, in GPa) can be described by lnVP= 3.079-0.691 ln(P) + 0.094(lnP)2. VP satisfies Birch’s law: VP= 4.068 + 1.677p, where p is corresponding density, which indicated that enstatite is stable throughout the conditions of the lower mantle. The wave velocity P is 0.5% lower and the wave velocity S is 2% higher than that of PREM respectively. We concluded that the lower mantle is mainly composed of perovskite-(Mg1-x, Fex) SiO3 and only a small amount of (Mg1-x, Fex) O is allowed in it.

Some refractory and volatile element chemistry of CaS in enstatite chondrites

INAA data for REE, Sc, Se, Br and Zn in CaS extracted from 5 enstatite chondrites (Qingzhen EH3, St. Marks EH5, Atlanta EL6, Hvittis EL6 and Pillistfer EL6) are reported. The results indicate that the REE abundances in CaS from unequilibrated enstatite chondrite, Qingzhen, are much higher than that from equilibrated ones. Similarly, the abundances of Sc, Se, Br and Zn in CaS from Qingzhen are higher than that in CaS grains from equilibrated chondrites, revealing that CaS is a previous condensate and is not simple residues of an evaporative process. Secondly, metamorphism has caused the redistribution of the trace elements among the minerals in enstatite chondrites, and this metamorphic fractionation reflects the differences from element volatilities and chemical properties. The REE patterns of CaS of enstatite chondrites and aubrites could not explain that aubrites were derived from known enstatite chondrites by igneous processing. And depleted europium in metamorphism and igneous process may be carried by Cr-bearing sulfides (minerals A and B).

Experimental investigation of phase transformations of olivine and enstatite at the lower part of the mantle transition zone:Implications for structure of the 660 km seismic discontinuity

High-pressure polymorphs of olivine and enstatite are major constituent minerals in the mantle transition zone （MTZ）. The phase transformations of olivine and enstatite at pressure and temperature conditions corresponding to the lower part of the MTZ are import for understanding the nature of the 660 km seismic discontinuity. In this study, we determine phase transfor- mations of olivine （MgSi204） and enstatite （MgSiO3） systematiclly at pressures between 21.3 and 24.4 GPa and at a constant temperature of 1600~C. The most profound discrepancy between olivine and enstatite phase transformation is the occurency of perovskite. In the olivine system, the post-spinel transformation occures at 23.8 GPa, corresponding to a depth of 660 km. In contrast, perovskite appears at 〈23 GPa （640 km） in the enstatite splitting of the 660 km seismic discountinuity under eastern China. system. The -1 GPa gap could explain the uplifting and/orsplitting of the 660 km seismic discountinuity under eastern China.

REFLECTANCE AND INFRARED TRANSMISSION SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF THE QINGZHEN ENSTATITE CHONDRITE (EH3)

Enstatite chondrites are the product of nebular condensation-agglomeration under extremely reducing conditions. They can be classified into two groups: the high-Fe(EH)and the low-Fe group(EL). The former can be further divided into three types, EH3, EH4 and EH5, while the latter all belong to EL6 type. Unequilibrium enstatite chondrites approximately represent the primordial celestial materials formed through partial nebular condensation-agglomeration and accretion in inner solar system, while the equilibrium ones are be-

Geochemical models of core-mantle differentiation

The core-mantle differentiation process is one of the most significant events in the Earth’s early history,which profoundly affects the Earth’s internal structure.According to the simple core-mantle differentiation mechanism,elements such as iron and nickel should be extracted from silicate to form an iron-rich proto-core,and the residual silicate materials form the proto-mantle.However,the composition of the lower mantle and the core remains controversial,which largely affects the partition of elements,thus the referred differentiation process of the Earth.In recent years,many experimental studies on the partition coefficient of siderophile elements between metal and silicate under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions have put forward new ideas on the issues around Earth’s core-mantle differentiation.Meanwhile,some researchers suggested that the redox state of the Earth’s mantle changes during its formation and evolution,and many isotope geochemistry studies support that some enstatite chondrites have a common nebular precursor as the Earth.These new studies bring dispute on the Earth’s building materials,which dominates the core-mantle differentiation process and largely affects the partitioning behaviors of elements during the core-mantle differentiation.This chapter aims to review recent experimental studies on the siderophile element geochemistry and discussions on the Earth’s building blocks.

FeO-rich silicates and Ca, Al-rich inclusions in Qingzhen andYamato 691 (EH3) meteorites: Evidence for migration of mass in the solar nebula

The Qingzhen and Yamato 691 (EH3) enstatite chondrites, which formed under extremely reducing condi-tions, are studied using the scanning electron microscope and electron probe microanalyzer. Both meteorites contain FeO-rich silicates and minor Ca, Al-rich inclusions. Most FeO-rich silicates are Ca-poor pyroxenes and occur as frag-ments in matrix. A few grains of FeO-rich silicates were found in chondrules, and FeO-rich olivine is rare. In Qingzhen, FeO-rich silicates commonly contain abundant dust-like Ni-poor metals, which probably formed through reduction of FeO. In contrast, only a few fragments of FeO-rich silicates in Yamato 691 enclose dust-like metals. This difference is consistent with a more reducing condition of Qingzhen than Yamato 691. Ca, Al-rich inclusions have similar modal compositions and mineral chemistry as their counterparts in carbonaceous chondrites. We suggest that (1) the FeO-rich silicates probably formed in oxidized regions of the solar nebula, and then moved into the

THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS OF MINERALS IN QINGZHEN METEORITE AND ITS GEOCHEMISTRY SIGNIFICANCE

The chemical compositions of silicate minerals, sulphide minerals and metal Fe-Ni in theQingzhen meteorite were measured by the microprobe analyses. Based upon these chemicalcompositions, the cosmochemical behaviour and characteristics of the existing forms of themajor elements in the Qinzhen meteorite have been discussed. These characteristics show thatunder the S-rich, O-poor, and strongly reducing conditions, the light metal elements, such asCa, Mg, K, Na may form sulphide, and metal Fe-Ni may contain Si and P. However, we con-sider that the light metal-sulphide can be stable in the lower mantle and there are some Siand P in the Fe-Ni core. Finally, an earth core-mantle model is established, where the Fe-Ni core contains some Si and P; the lower mantle is composed of Mg-rich silicate, SiO_2 andsulphide; the upper mantle, of silicate and oxide.

Inspiration From Study of Antarctic Meteorites(Ⅱ)——Discovery of the First EL3 Chondrite

Chondrites can be classified into different types from 1 to 6 with increasing degree ofthermometamorphism.EH-chondrites fall between types 3 and 5 with lack of type 6,while all of the 17 EL chondrites were reported to be of type 6.Such distribution of thechemical-petrographic types of enstatite chondrites was used as a key argument for thatthese two chondrites came from one single parent body.Peckling Peak A80259 was re-ported as the first EL5 chondrite,however,solid solution of FeS-MgS-MnS system inthis chondrite exists as niningerite,a distinctive phase of EH chondrites.In addition,