Tag

Bridgmanite

All articles tagged with #bridgmanite

Deep-Earth Phase Shift Behind Mysterious Gravity Glitches
science2 hours ago

Deep-Earth Phase Shift Behind Mysterious Gravity Glitches

NASA/DLR GRACE data showed a deep mantle gravity anomaly from 2006–2008 stretching across the eastern Atlantic. Scientists traced the signal to a phase transition in bridgmanite near the core–mantle boundary, where mineral structure changes redistribute mass and alter density. This deep-seated gravitational anomaly, not fully explained by surface water, helps explain previous geomagnetic-field–related gravity fluctuations and will guide models of core–mantle dynamics and mantle convection.

Early Earth's Deep Mantle Held More Water Than Previously Believed
science2 months ago

Early Earth's Deep Mantle Held More Water Than Previously Believed

New research indicates that during Earth's early molten phase, vast amounts of water were stored deep within the mantle, particularly in the mineral bridgmanite, which acted as a microscopic water reservoir. This hidden water played a crucial role in Earth's evolution, helping it transition from a fiery planet to a habitable world by facilitating internal circulation and surface water formation.

Unraveling Earth's Mysteries: From Viscosity Jump to Mountain Formation
earth-science2 years ago

Unraveling Earth's Mysteries: From Viscosity Jump to Mountain Formation

An international research team has discovered that the sudden increase in viscosity in the Earth's lower mantle at depths of 800 to 1,200 km is due to the presence of bridgmanite-enriched rocks with larger grain sizes. These rocks, which make up a significant portion of the lower mantle, have a positive grain size dependence on viscosity. The viscosity jump affects various geophysical and geochemical processes, explaining phenomena such as the slowed sinking of subducted plates and the rapid upwelling of mantle plumes. The highly viscous bridgmanite-enriched rocks have been preserved in the deep lower mantle for billions of years.