Discovery of Davemaoite, Casio3-Perovskite, as a Mineral From the Lower Mantle

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-12-2021

Publication Title

Science

Volume

374

Issue

6569

First page number:

891

Last page number:

894

Abstract

Calcium silicate perovskite, CaSiO3, is arguably the most geochemically important phase in the lower mantle, because it concentrates elements that are incompatible in the upper mantle, including the heat-generating elements thorium and uranium, which have half-lives longer than the geologic history of Earth. We report CaSiO3-perovskite as an approved mineral (IMA2020-012a) with the name davemaoite. The natural specimen of davemaoite proves the existence of compositional heterogeneity within the lower mantle. Our observations indicate that davemaoite also hosts potassium in addition to uranium and thorium in its structure. Hence, the regional and global abundances of davemaoite influence the heat budget of the deep mantle, where the mineral is thermodynamically stable.

Controlled Subject

Perovskite (Mineral)

Disciplines

Mineral Physics | Natural Resources and Conservation

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