Element Partitioning at Earth's Deep Chemical Boundaries

地球的核心-地幔边界（CMB）和内核边界（ICB）是最重要的深层化学边界，它们定义了内部的动力学并控制地球磁场的产生。边界通过金属硅酸盐分异和内部结晶重置元素重新分布。本研究的目的是使用新开发的高压和高温技术以及最先进的分析工具来了解这些边界处的元素分配行为，这些工具可以模拟边界条件并分析回收样品中共存相的化学成分。这项工作将显着增进我们对地球深层过程和研究深层化学边界元素重新分布的实验技术的了解。这项研究的重点是高压和高温下地幔和地核之间硅（Si）和氧（O）的分配，适用于核幔分异以及硅和氧在地核中的结合。具体项目包括（1）确定在 CMB 压力下液态地幔硅酸盐和熔融核心铁合金之间的 Si 和 O 分配，以及（2）确定压力对固态和液态铁合金之间的 Si、O 和 S 分配系数的影响，并检查它们在 ICB 条件下的分配行为。该研究将在极端条件下产生高质量的数据，这些数据对于了解地球核心的化学成分以及深入了解地球吸积环境和地球内部的演化是必要的。它将在岩石学、矿物物理学、地球化学和地球物理学的交叉领域开辟新的研究机会。

The Earth's core-mantle boundary (CMB) and inner core boundary (ICB) are the most important deep chemical boundaries that define the dynamics of the interior and control the generation of Earth magnetic field. The boundaries reset the element redistribution through metal-silicate differentiation and inner crystallization. The goal of this study is to understand the behavior of element partitioning at these boundaries using newly developed high-pressure and temperature techniques and state-of-the-art analytical tools that allow simulating the conditions of the boundaries and analyzing the chemical compositions of the coexisting phases in the recovered samples. The proposed work will significantly advance our knowledge of Earth's deep processes and experimental techniques to investigate element redistribution at deep chemical boundaries.The focus of the proposed research is on the silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) partitioning between mantle and core at high pressure and temperature, applicable to core-mantle differentiation and the incorporation of Si and O in the core. Specific projects include (1) determining the Si and O partitioning between liquid mantle silicate and molten core iron alloy up to CMB pressure, and (2) determining the effect of pressure on the Si, O, and S partitioning coefficients between solid and liquid iron alloy and examining their partitioning behavior at ICB conditions. The research will produce high-quality data under extreme conditions that are necessary for understanding the chemistry of Earth's core and providing insight into the Earth accretion environment and the evolution of Earth's interior. It will open new research opportunities at the interface of petrology, mineral physics, geochemistry, and geophysics.