Collaborative Research: Partitioning of Water Between Mantle Minerals and Silicate Melts

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

Under this award, the PIs will conduct a systematic study of the partitioning of water between common upper mantle minerals (olivine, pyroxenes, garnet) and hydrous silicate melt. Peridotite melting experiments will be conducted over a range of pressure, temperature and total H2O content thought to span the conditions of partial melting in the Earth's upper mantle. Partition coefficients for hydrogen and deuterium will be measured in these experiments using the ion microprobe, and will be measured together with major elements and select trace elements (Li, Be, B, LILE, HFSE, REE) in the same experiments. This study will provide detailed data on the variability of the partitioning of water between minerals and melt as a function of depth within the upper mantle, and will directly compare the mineral/melt partitioning of water with that of lithophile trace elements in upper mantle minerals.