Post-Perovskite Phase Transition in the Pyrolitic Lowermost Mantle: Implications for Ubiquitous Occurrence of Post-Perovskite Above CMB

We conducted in situ high-pressure and -temperature X-ray diffraction measurements of a pyrolitic mantle material up to 4480 K at 122-166 GPa in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. Results demonstrate that the phase transition between bridgmanite and post-perovskite occurs in pyrolite within the lowermost mantle pressure range even at >4000 K. It suggests the ubiquitous occurrence of post-perovskite above the core-mantle boundary, which may be consistent with recent high-quality seismology data that non-observations of D reflections are exceptions. Combining with earlier experiments performed at and below the normal lower-mantle geotherm, our data show that the bridgmanite + post-perovskite two-phase region is similar to 5 GPa thick and the dP/dT slope of the boundary is +6.5 +/- 2.2 MPa/K, slightly smaller than previous theoretical calculations in MgSiO3. The global presence of rheologically weak post-perovskite at the bottom of the mantle has profound implications in seismology, geodynamics, and heat transfer from the core.

Automated summary

Through high-pressure and high-temperature X-ray diffraction measurements, we discovered that a phase transition occurs in pyrolite even at high temperatures and pressures, indicating the presence of post-perovskite above the core-mantle boundary. This has significant implications for seismology, geodynamics, and heat transfer.