Qp-melting temperature relation in peridotite at high pressure and temperature: Attenuation mechanism and implications for the mechanical properties of the upper mantle

The anelastic properties of compressional waves in a peridotite have been determined in the laboratory at sufficiently high temperatures (to 1280°C) and pressures (to 0.73 GPa) to warrant comparison with seismic measurements of the Earth. A substantial decrease of Qp is observed at temperatures well below the onset of partial melting. Qp systematically increases with increasing pressure over the entire temperature range. Of major significance is the finding that Qp is dependent on the ratio of the temperatures to the melting (solidus) temperature; i.e., Qp depends on the homologous temperature. The pressure dependence of Qp appears through the pressure dependence of the solidus of the peridotite. Within the uncertainties of measurement of both Qp and the phase diagram, it appears that melting and high-temperature anelastic properties have a common origin in peridotite. The homologous temperature dependence of Qp suggests that we may estimate the temperature and pressure dependence of Qp for peridotites of different compositions and possibly even for hydrous peridotites, if solidus temperatures are known as a function of pressure (a far easier measurement than elastic and anelastic properties). The activation volume of Qp is greatly reduced at high pressure, since the slope of solidus versus pressure rapidly decreases with increasing pressure. Pressure dependence of seismic velocity and melt fraction in peridotite also appears to be related to the homologous temperature. The Qp-homologous temperature relation suggests a connection between Qp and the properties of the grain boundaries; that is, the major loss of seismic energy occurs at the grain boundaries. Grain boundary relaxation or high-temperature background attenuation is a possible mechanism for the grain boundary damping. No frequency dependence of Qp is resolved (0<α<0.2 in Qp ∝ fα) over the pressure, temperature and frequency ranges of the measurement. The present results and the model of grain boundary relaxation suggest that an appropriate choice of grain size may give an ultrasonic Q that is applicable to the Earth. Experimentally determined anelastic properties of a peridotite are critical for modeling mechanical properties of the upper mantle. Implications of the results are as follows: (1) Seismic data commonly interpreted as indicating a partially molten asthenosphere may instead reflect a hot solid asthenosphere at 90–100% of the solidus temperature. (2) Partial melting may not produce any abrupt change of seismic velocity and Q; rather, elastic and anelastic properties of the upper mantle will change gradually at the boundary where the geotherm crosses the solidus. (3) There may be no sharp mechanical boundary between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere.