Ferromagnesian postperovskite silicates in the D layer of the Earth

Natural olivine with 12 mol % Fe2SiO4 and synthetic orthopyroxenes with 20% and 40% FeSiO3 were studied beyond the pressure-temperature conditions of the core-mantle boundary. All samples were found to convert entirely or partially into the CaIrO3 postperovskite structure, which was recently reported for pure MgSiO3. The incorporation of Fe greatly reduces the pressure needed for the transition and establishes the new phase as the major component of the D layer. With the liquid core as an unlimited reservoir of iron, core-mantle reactions could further enrich the iron content in this phase and explain the intriguing seismic signatures observed in the D layer.