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The middle mantle of the earth

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Geotectonics Aims and scope

Abstract

The middle mantle as a separate geosphere within a depth interval of 840 to 1700 km was recognized in 1995 by Yu.M. Pushcharovsky. The structure, energetics, and tectonics of the middle mantle, as well as phase transformations inherent to this geosphere, are characterized in this paper. The distribution of seismic heterogeneities established by seismic tomography is a definitive attribute of the given geosphere. The middle mantle differs from other geospheres by greater dimensions of seismic heterogeneities, especially as concerns the low- and medium-velocity domains. The high-velocity heterogeneities are round and oval in shape and in some cases reach a few thousand kilometers in size. The distribution of such heterogeneities is nonuniform and varies from one depth level to another. A high lateral contrast of anomalous domains distinguished by elastic wave velocities is expressed in gradient zones hundredths of kilometers wide. Specific general patterns of middle-mantle anomalies in the Pacific and Indian-Atlantic sectors of the Earth reflect their difference in geological history. The consideration of heterogeneities in terms of tectonics leads to the conclusion that role of the tectonic flow of mantle masses in the form of shearing and thrusting is important. The middle mantle is characterized by a special mineral composition with the prevalence of MgSiO3 crystallized as an orthorhombically distorted perovskite-type structure. The transformations of stishovite into a poststishovite modification at a depth of ∼1500 km and of aragonite into the postaragonite phase with an unusual structure at a depth of ∼1050 km are inherent to this geosphere. A change of the electronic structure of alkali cations is assumed in the middle mantle. Thus, the recognition of the middle mantle as a special geopshere is emphasized by its crystal chemistry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevskii per. 7, Moscow, 119017, Russia

    Yu. M. Pushcharovsky

  2. Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Vorob’evy gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia

    D. Yu. Pushcharovsky

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  1. Yu. M. Pushcharovsky
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Correspondence to Yu. M. Pushcharovsky.

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Original Russian Text © Yu.M. Pushcharovsky, D.Yu. Pushcharovsky, 2008, published in Geotektonika, 2008, No. 1, pp. 3–11.

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Pushcharovsky, Y.M., Pushcharovsky, D.Y. The middle mantle of the earth. Geotecton. 42, 1–7 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016852108010019

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