Thermoelasticity of phase D and implications for low-velocity anomalies and local discontinuities at the uppermost lower mantle

Abstract

The distribution of water reservoirs in the deep Earth is critical to understanding geochemical evolution and mantle dynamics. Phase D is a potential water carrier in the slab subducted to the uppermost lower mantle (ULM) and its seismic velocity and density characteristics are important for seismological detection on water reservoirs, but these properties remain poorly constrained. Here we calculate the seismic velocities and density of Mg-endmember phase D (MgSi2H2O6) under the ULM conditions using first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory. The velocities of phase D are higher than those of periclase and slightly lower than those of bridgmanite by 0.5–3.4% for VP and by 0–1.9% for VS between 660- and 1000-km depths. Considering its relatively low content, phase D can hardly produce a low-velocity anomaly in the ULM observed by seismological studies. However, due to its strong elastic anisotropy, it may contribute significantly to the observed seismic anisotropy at a similar depth. Additionally, phase D dehydrates into bridgmanite and stishovite at the ULM, producing insignificant velocity changes but a substantial density increase of ~14%. Therefore, the dehydration is probably too weak to generate discontinuities associated with velocity jumps, whereas it may account for seismic discontinuities that are sensitive to impedance changes, and particularly density jumps, near the dehydration depth observed in some subduction zones.