Electrical conductivity of olivine, wadsleyite, and ringwoodite under upper-mantle conditions

Geophysical models show that electrical conductivity in Earth's mantle rises about two orders of magnitude through the transition zone in the depth range 410 to 660 kilometers. Impedance measurements obtained on Mg1.8Fe0.2SiO4 olivine, wadsleyite, and ringwoodite at up to 20 gigapascals and 1400 degreesC show that the electrical conductivities of wadsleyite and ringwoodite are similar and are almost two orders of magnitude higher than that of olivine. A conductivity-depth profile to 660 kilometers, based on these laboratory data, shows a conductivity increase of almost two orders of magnitude across the 410-kilometer discontinuity; such a profile favors a two-layer model for the upper mantle. Activation enthalpies of 1.2 to 1.7 electron volts permit appreciable lateral variations of conductivity with lateral temperature variations.     

The effect of alumina on the electrical conductivity of silicate perovskite

Measurements of the electrical conductivity of silicate perovskite at 25 gigapascals and 1400 degrees to 1600 degreesC show that the conductivity of (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite containing 2.89 weight percent Al2O3 is about 3.5 times greater than that of aluminum-free (Mg0.915Fe0.085)SiO3 perovskite. The conduction mechanism in perovskite between 1400 degrees and 1600 degreesC is most likely by polarons, because Mossbauer studies show that the aluminum-bearing perovskite has about 3.5 times the amount of Fe3+ as the aluminum-free sample. A conductivity-depth profile from 660 to 2900 kilometers based on aluminum-bearing perovskite is consistent with geophysical models.