Hydrous peridotitic fragments of Earth's mantle 660 km discontinuity sampled by a diamond

The internal structure and dynamics of Earth have been shaped by the 660 km boundary between the mantle transition zone and lower mantle. However, due to the paucity of natural samples from this depth, the nature of this boundary-its composition and volatile fluxes across it-remain debated. Here we analyse the mineral inclusions in a rare type laB gem diamond from the Karowe mine (Botswana). We discovered recovered lower-mantle minerals ringwoodite + ferropericlase + low-Ni enstatite (MgSiO3) in a polyphase inclusion, together with other principal lower-mantle minerals and hydrous phases, place its origin at similar to 23.5 GPa and similar to 1,650 degrees C, corresponding to the depth at the 660 km discontinuity. The petrological character of the inclusions indicates that ringwoodite (similar to MB1.84Fe0.15SiO4) breaks down into bridgmanite (similar to Mg0.93Fe 0.07SiO3) and ferropericlase (similar to Mg0.84Fe0.16O) in a water-saturated environment at the 660 km discontinuity and reveals that the peridotitic composition and hydrous conditions extend at least across the transition zone and into the lower mantle.

Automated summary

This study reveals the nature and composition of the 660 km boundary between the mantle transition zone and lower mantle by analyzing mineral inclusions in a rare gem diamond from Botswana. The recovered lower-mantle minerals and hydrous phases found at this boundary suggest that the peridotitic composition and hydrous conditions extend across the transition zone and into the lower mantle.