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Dark magma at the bottom of the lower mantle -New insights into the super-hot plumes in the deep Earth- (Press Release)

Release Date
13 Nov, 2014
  • BL11XU (JAEA Quantum Dynamics)


Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)

   The research team led by Prof. Motohiko Murakami of Tohoku University have revealed for the first time that the dense magmas in the Earth’s interior become significantly “darker” with increasing pressure, and become less thermally conductive than previously expected. The results indicate that the possible presence of such dense and “dark” magmas at the bottom of the mantle play an essential role for the generation of giant hot mantle upwelling rooted in the Earth’s core-mantle boundary, so-called “super-hot plume”.
   The research is published in the November 11, 2014 issue of Nature Communications.

Publication:
Nature Communications published in November 11, 2014
Title: "High-pressure radiative conductivity of dense silicate glasses with potential implications for dark magmas"
Authors:  *M. Murakami, A.F. Goncharov, N. Hirao, R. Masuda, T. Mitsui, S-M. Thomas, C.R. Bina  (*corresponding author)
doi: 10.1038/ncomms6428

<<Figures>>

Fig.1 TDistribution of Ultra-Low-Velocity Zones observed at the base of the mantle (red region).
Fig.1 Distribution of Ultra-Low-Velocity Zones observed at the base of the mantle (red region).
（T.Lay, Q.Williams & E.J.Garnero　et al.Nature (1998)）

 

Fig.2 Schematic cross section of the earth's mantle, showing the large hot mantle upwellings rooted in the core-mantle boundary
Fig.2 Schematic cross section of the earth's mantle

 

Fig.3 Schematic image of the diamond anvil cell high-pressure apparatus.
Fig.3 Schematic image of the diamond anvil cell high-pressure apparatus.

Fig.4 Photomicrographic images of the sample
Fig.4 Photomicrographic images of the sample under 2 GPa (left) and 80 GPa (right) in the diamond anvil cell.

 

Fig.5 Schematic image of the presence of the dark magmas at the bottom of the mantle.
Fig.5 Schematic image of the presence of the dark magmas at the bottom of the mantle.

 


For more information, please contact:
Associate Professor Motohiko Murakami
(Department of Earth and Planetary Materials Science, Tohoku University)
E-mail：mail
Web：http://epms.es.tohoku.ac.jp/minphys/murakami
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