Elastic Softening of (Mg0.8Fe0.2)O Ferropericlase Across the Iron Spin Crossover Measured at Seismic Frequencies

Abstract

AbstractWe experimentally determined the bulk modulus of (Mg0.8Fe0.2)O ferropericlase across the iron spin transition and in the low‐spin phase by employing a new experimental approach. In our measurements, we simulate the propagation of a compressional seismic wave (P wave) through our sample by employing a piezo‐driven dynamic diamond anvil cell that allows to oscillate pressure at seismic frequencies. During pressure oscillations, X‐ray diffraction images were continuously collected every 5–50 ms. The bulk modulus is directly calculated from these data at different pressures. Our experiments show a pronounced softening of the bulk modulus throughout the spin crossover, supporting previous single‐crystal measurements at very high frequencies and computations. Comparison of our results to previous data collected on (Mg,Fe)O with lower iron contents shows that the magnitude of softening strongly depends on iron content. Our experiments at seismic frequencies confirm that the iron spin crossover markedly affects the ratio of seismic compressional to shear wave velocities in Earth's lower mantle.