In situ strongXstrong-ray diffraction studies of iron to Earth-core.pdfVIP

Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 143–144 (2004) 455–467 In situ X-ray diffraction studies of iron to Earth-core conditions Yanzhang Ma a,∗, Maddury Somayazulub , Guoyin Shen c , Ho-kwang Maob , Jinfu Shu b , Russell J. Hemleyb a Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Box 41021, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA b Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20015, USA c Consortium for Advanced Radiation Sources, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA Received 30 January 2003; received in revised form 29 May 2003; accepted 24 June 2003 Abstract The high-pressure, high-temperature behavior of iron has been investigated to 161 GPa and 3000 K by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction with double-side laser-heated diamond anvil cells. We found that only -, - and ε-Fe can be clearly verified as the stable solid phase in the P–T range studied. Only ε-Fe is observed from deep lower mantle (∼1500 km) to outer core conditions. Within the P–T range examined, we did not observe a significant change with pressure or temperature on the c/a ratio of ε-Fe. The melting curve of iron has been determined to 105 GPa. A Lindeman law fit gives a melting point of iron at the inner core boundary of 5800 (±200) K, which provides an upper bound on the temperature at that depth. We also examine numerous experimental factors that may complicate the analysis of high P–T diffraction data, and discuss the effects of sample stress on the X-ray diffraction results. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Iron; Phase diagram; High pressure; High temperature; X-ray diffraction 1. Introduction a bound on the temperature regime of the core. In ad-