Elasticity of Mantle Minerals: Composition, Pressure and Temperature Dependence

182 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1999.An extrapolation of our data to transition zone pressure and temperature indicates that the shear and compressional impedance contrasts associated with beta- →gamma-(Mg,Fe)2SiO4 transition are sufficient to produce a resolvable discontinuity at 520 km even with a moderate (30--50%) amount of olivine. A single olivine content can explain both the 400 and 520 km discontinuities. High velocity gradients in the transition zone is explained by pyroxene → majorite transition rather than adiabatic compression of minerals.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD