Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C511548/1
Oxygen solubility in molten iron at extreme conditions: Is Earth's core an oxygen pump?
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor M Walter, University of Bristol, Earth Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Bristol, Earth Sciences
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Planetary science
- Properties Of Earth Materials
- Mantle & Core Processes
- Abstract:
- Knowledge of the solubility of oxygen in molten iron at high pressures and temperatures is fundamental for understanding the physics and chemistry of the Earth's core and mantle. This basic knowledge has important implications for several fundamental questions including: 1) What is the light element in Earth's outer core (the outer core is about 10% less dense than pure iron) 2) Has Earth's core been in communication chemically with the mantle throughout geologic history? 3) What is the nature of the seismically imaged 'D' layer at the base of the mantle? 4) How did Earth's mantle obtain its oxidation state? Determining the oxygen solubility in molten iron at extreme conditions has proven to be a great challenge for experimentalists. Currently, while it is known that solubility increases with temperature, there is an ongoing controversy regarding the effect of pressure. Recent data indicates an apparent decrease with pressure to about 25 GPa, but it is hotly debated controversy regarding what might happen at the much higher pressure at the core-mantle boundary. Early, and also controversial, laser-heated diamond anvil cell results indicate that oxygen could become more soluble above about 30 GPa, a result supported by recent, yet again controversial, measurements of the partial molar volume of oxygen at high pressure. Here, we propose a new experimental attack on this question by equilibrating molten iron with iron oxide (wustite) at pressures above 30 GPa using newly-installed laser heated diamond anvil cell systems at the University of Bristol and at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence-Berkeley National Lab (U.S.) (Project Partner). Run products will be analyzed using a multi-faceted approach utilizing state-of-the-art analytical techniques that include in situ high-resolution X-ray radiography, electron microscopy, and nano-SIMS spectroscopy.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C511548/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £57,259
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs | Total - Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £3,924 | £2,384 | £35,316 | £1,097 | £14,538 |
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