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Mantle dynamics inferred from the crystallographic preferred orientation of bridgmanite

Nature volume 539, pages 81–84 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Seismic shear wave anisotropy1,2,3,4,5,6 is observed in Earth’s uppermost lower mantle around several subducted slabs. The anisotropy caused by the deformation-induced crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of bridgmanite (perovskite-structured (Mg,Fe)SiO3) is the most plausible explanation for these seismic observations. However, the rheological properties of bridgmanite are largely unknown. Uniaxial deformation experiments7,8,9 have been carried out to determine the deformation texture of bridgmanite, but the dominant slip system (the slip direction and plane) has not been determined. Here we report the CPO pattern and dominant slip system of bridgmanite under conditions that correspond to the uppermost lower mantle (25 gigapascals and 1,873 kelvin) obtained through simple shear deformation experiments using the Kawai-type deformation-DIA apparatus10. The fabrics obtained are characterized by [100] perpendicular to the shear plane and [001] parallel to the shear direction, implying that the dominant slip system of bridgmanite is [001](100). The observed seismic shear- wave anisotropies near several subducted slabs1,2,3,4 (Tonga–Kermadec, Kurile, Peru and Java) can be explained in terms of the CPO of bridgmanite as induced by mantle flow parallel to the direction of subduction.

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Figure 1: Backscattered electron images of the bridgmanite aggregates.
Figure 2: Pole figures of bridgmanite showing the variation in the crystallographic orientation of the [100], [010] and [001] directions.
Figure 3: Seismic wave anisotropy of bridgmanite aggregates deformed under shear at uppermost lower-mantle pressures and temperatures.
Figure 4: Schematic cross-sections of subducted slabs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank E. Ito and S. Karato for help preparing the manuscript and Takahashi Laboratory and HACTO group members for help collecting the two-dimensional diffraction data. We also thank T. Ohuchi and D. Mainprice for the codes used to calculate the seismic anisotropy of bridgmanite. This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant number 15J09669 to N.T. and 25247088. and 21109001 to E.T. The two-dimensional diffraction measurements for analysis of CPO were carried out on the BL04B1 beamline at SPring-8 under the approval with JASRI (proposal numbers 2012B1437, 2013B1434, 2014A1431, 2014B1400, 2015A1600 and 2015B1504).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, 827 Yamada, Misasa, 682-0193, Tottori, Japan

    Noriyoshi Tsujino & Daisuke Yamazaki

  2. Geodynamics Research Center, Ehime-University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Ehime, Japan

    Yu Nishihara

  3. Department of Planetology, Kobe University, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan

    Yusuke Seto

  4. Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, 689-5198, Hyogo, Japan

    Yuji Higo

  5. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro, 152-8551, Tokyo, Japan

    Eiichi Takahashi

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Contributions

N.T. planned and performed the deformation experiments (with help from Y.N., D.Y. and E.T.). N.T. and D.Y. collected two-dimensional diffraction patterns (with help from Y.H.). N.T. analysed the crystal orientation distribution of the bridgmanite aggregate (with help from Y.S.). N.T., D.Y. and Y.N. wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Noriyoshi Tsujino.

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Extended data figures and tables

Extended Data Figure 1 Schematic cross-sections of cell assemblies.

a, Shear deformation experiments. b, Temperature calibration experiment.

Extended Data Figure 2 The temperature and power relationship at 25 GPa using the cell assembly for the temperature calibration experiments.

The results for the two runs are shown by black and red lines.

Extended Data Figure 3 Loads and strokes of the differential rams during the deformation experiment (run K122) are shown as functions of elapsed time.

The lines for the stroke of the top and bottom rams almost overlap. The sample was deformed by advancement of both the top and bottom differential rams linearly with time. During deformation, the loads of differential rams also increased linearly.

Extended Data Figure 4 Schematic of the two-dimensional X-ray diffraction measurement set-up.

For these measurements the direct beam stopper arm was located at the right side when the assembly is viewed from the front.

Extended Data Figure 5 X-ray diffraction pattern of deformed bridgmanite.

a, Two-dimensional X-ray diffraction pattern where ϕ is the azimuthal angle. b, one-dimensional X-ray diffraction pattern of the deformed bridgmanite (K122). In a the two-dimensional X-ray diffraction pattern at the imaging plate is taken from the back surface of the sample, which is opposite to the polished plane. The position of the direct beam stopper arm is thus on the left. The diffraction peaks of the (111), (020), (120), (210), (022), (202), (113), (122), (212), (023) and (221) planes were used in the analysis of the CPO patterns. Brg, bridgmanite.

Extended Data Figure 6 Normalized intensities of diffraction peaks of the deformed bridgmanite.

Each diffraction peak intensity was normalized by its average value. a–k, Diffraction peaks for the (111) (a), (020) (b), (120) (c), (210) (d), (022) (e), (202) (f), (113) (g), (122) (h), (212) (i), (023) (j) and (221) (k) planes.

Extended Data Figure 7 Pole figures of bridgmanite showing the variation of the CPO of the [200], [020] and [002] directions determined using MAUD.

mrd, multiples of a random distribution.

Extended Data Table 1 Summary of the dominant slip system found for bridgmanite in various studies
Full size table
Extended Data Table 2 Elasticity (Cij) of the deformed bridgmanite aggregate at 25 GPa and 1,873 K
Full size table
Extended Data Table 3 Elasticity (Cij) of a single crystal of a bridgmanite aggregate used to calculate the elasticity of deformed bridgmanite aggregate
Full size table

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Tsujino, N., Nishihara, Y., Yamazaki, D. et al. Mantle dynamics inferred from the crystallographic preferred orientation of bridgmanite. Nature 539, 81–84 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature19777

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