Seismological constraints on a possible plume root at the core-mantle boundary

Sebastian Rost, Edward Garnero, Quentin Williams, Michael Manga

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

155 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent seismological discoveries have indicated that the Earth's core-mantle boundary is far more complex than a simple boundary between the molten outer core and the silicate mantle. Instead, its structural complexities probably rival those of the Earth's crust. Some regions of the lowermost mantle have been observed to have seismic wave speed reductions of at least 10 per cent, which appear not to be global in extent. Here we present robust evidence for an 8.5-km-thick and ∼50-km-wide pocket of dense, partially molten material at the core-mantle boundary east of Australia. Array analyses of an anomalous precursor to the reflected seismic wave ScP reveal compressional and shear-wave velocity reductions of 8 and 25 per cent, respectively, and a 10 per cent increase in density of the partially molten aggregate. Seismological data are incompatible with a basal layer composed of pure melt, and thus require a mechanism to prevent downward percolation of dense melt within the layer. This may be possible by trapping of melt by cumulus crystal growth following melt drainage from an anomalously hot overlying region of the lower-most mantle. This magmatic evolution and the resulting cumulate structure seem to be associated with overlying thermal instabilities, and thus may mark a root zone of an upwelling plume.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)666-669
Number of pages4
JournalNature
Volume435
Issue number7042
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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