Anomalous compressibility of ferropericlase throughout the iron spin crossover

Abstract: The thermoelastic properties of ferropericlase Mg1-xFexO (x = 0.1875) throughout the iron high-to-low spin crossover have been investigated by first principles at Earth's lower mantle conditions. This crossover has important consequences for elasticity such as an anomalous bulk modulus (KS) reduction. At room temperature the anomaly is somewhat sharp in pressure but broadens with increasing temperature. Along a typical geotherm it occurs across most of the lower mantle with a more significant KS reduction around 1400-1600 km depth. This anomaly might also cause a reduction in the effective activation energy for viscous creep and lead to a viscosity minimum in the mid-lower mantle, in apparent agreement with results from inversion of data related with mantle convection and postglacial rebound.