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Published 1968 | public
Journal Article

Chemical inhomogeneity of the mantle

Abstract

The major portion of the increase in density and elastic properties through the transition region of the upper mantle can be attributed to phase changes. However, the density increase in the Earth is slightly greater and the observed increase of the seismic velocities is slightly less than predicted on the basis of phase changes alone. The data can be reconciled with an increase in the mean atomic weight of about 1.5 to 1.6 units. This implies an increase in the FeO/MgO ratio of about 0.17 to 0.18, the lower mantle bring more iron rich than the upper mantle.

Additional Information

© 1968 Published by Elsevier B.V. Received 8 September 1968. This research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Office of Aerospace Research, United States Air Force, under AFOSR contract AF-49(638)-1337 and National Science Foundation Grant GP 2806 (Upper mantle Project). I profited from helpful conversations with Tom Ahrens, Charles Archambeau and A.E. Ringwood.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 26, 2023