Thermodynamics of mantle minerals - II. Phase equilibria

Abstract

We complete the development and description of a thermodynamic method for the computation of phase equilibria and physical properties of multiphase mantle assemblages. Our previous paper focused on the computation of physical properties. In this paper, our focus shifts to the phase equilibria. We further develop our theory to specify the ideal and excess contributions to solution properties and derive properties of multiphase assemblages. We discuss our global inversion strategy for determining the values of the free parameters in our theory and compare inverted parameter values with expectations based on scaling arguments. Comparisons between our method and experimental phase equilibria data encompass the pressure-temperature regime of Earth's mantle. Finally, we present applications of our method that illustrate how it may be used to explore the origins of mantle structure and mantle dynamics. Continuing rapid advances in experimental and theoretical petrology and mineral physics have motivated an expansion of the scope of our model via the addition of several new phases, and of the soda component: an appendix lists all parameters in our model and references to the experimental and theoretical studies that constrain them. Our algorithm for global minimization of the Gibbs free energy is embodied in a code called HeFESTo, and is detailed in a second appendix. © 2011 The Authors Geophysical Journal International © 2011 RAS.