Collaborative Research: Experimental and computational constraints on the isotope fractionation of Mossbauer-inactive elements in mantle minerals

Purdue University, West Lafayette IN

Investigators

Abstract

Earth minerals provide crucial constraints on the processes that are responsible for forming the Earth’s crust, mantle, and core. Different types of silicon, or isotopes, in mantle minerals can trace the conditions of Earth formation, yet the behavior of silicon isotopes under high-pressure and temperature conditions are difficult to determine. This project serves the national interest by promoting the progress of science by developing new ways to combine state-of-the-art computations with state-of-the-art experiments. The project will further benefit society through career development pathways for undergraduates, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career researchers. The isotopic fractionation between mantle minerals arises from Earth’s early differentiation, offering crucial clues for the mantle’s composition and chemical evolution. This project avoids the need for measurement or calculation of partitioning through combined theoretical calculations and single-crystal diffraction measurements. Project results will build a foundation for determining isotopic compositions of mantle minerals and the Earth’s isotopic composition. The project will achieve these goals through combined experiment and theory on hydrous phyllosilicates to benchmark a machine learning framework. This will establish an accurate yet efficient model for anharmonic mineral systems. The outcomes of this project will build the foundation to complete the landscape of mantle isotope distribution to enhance understanding of the Earth’s composition and chemical history. This project is jointly funded by Cooperative Studies of the Earth's Deep Interior (CSEDI) and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.