University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Sound velocity study of natural orthopyroxenes with varying iron content

Picek, Stephen M

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/78756

Description

Title
Sound velocity study of natural orthopyroxenes with varying iron content
Author(s)
Picek, Stephen M
Issue Date
2015-04-21
Department of Study
Geology
Discipline
Geology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
  • orthopyroxene
  • elasticity
  • Brillouin scattering
  • upper mantle heterogeneity
Abstract
Determination of the acoustic wave velocities of orthopyroxene as a function of composition is essential to identify the underlying causes of seismic heterogeneity. Such laboratory measurements are essential to determine the structure, composition and temperature variability of the upper mantle. This study presents a systematic characterization of orthopyroxene elastic moduli as a function of composition in the enstatite-orthoferrosilite system. For each sample and composition, the sound velocities are measured by Brillouin scattering in three orthogonal crystallographic planes. Inverting sound velocity data allows determination of the complete elastic modulus tensor, as well as the adiabatic bulk (Ks) and shear (μs) moduli. Samples were naturally occurring with approximate compositions: En90, En79, En74, and En55. The results establish nearly linear trends of VP and VS as a function of mole fraction En between the end members enstatite (Jackson et al 2007) and orthoferrosilite (Bass and Weidner 1984). Analysis of previous studies on orthopyroxene and the present work confirms that aluminum has the effects of increasing Ks while also confirming no discernable effect from Ca substitution. Ks. is poorly correlated to Mg-Fe substitution whereas μs correlates in a more linear between the end-members. These findings will help better characterize chemical, namely Mg and Fe, heterogeneity in the upper mantle.
Graduation Semester
2015-5
Type of Resource
text
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78756
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2015 Stephen Picek

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