The inner inner core of the Earth: Texturing of iron crystals from three-dimensional seismic anisotropy

We present a three-dimensional model of the seismic anisotropy and texturing of iron crystals in the inner core. The form of the anisotropy changes suddenly at slightly less than half of the inner core radius. The outer part is composed of iron crystals of a single phase with different degrees of preferred alignment along the spin axis of the Earth. The inner part may be composed of a different phase of crystalline iron or have a different pattern of alignment. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.