Measurements of Sound Velocity of Liquid Fe-11.8 wt % S up to 211.4 GPa and 6,150 K

Abstract

Using the dynamic compression technique, the sound velocities of Fe-11.8 wt % S were measured up to 211.4 (4.5) GPa and 6,150 K. Discontinuities both in shock velocity and sound velocity indicate that Fe-11.8 wt % S completely melts at a pressure of 111.3 (2.3) GPa. By the energy conservation law, the calculated liquidus temperature is about 2,500 (300) K. Extrapolated to the inner-core boundary based on the Lindeman law, the liquidus temperature of Fe-11.8 wt % S is 4,300 (300) K. We developed a thermodynamic model fit to the experimental data, which allows calculation of the densities and sound velocities of liquid Fe-S under core conditions. For liquid Fe-11.8 wt % S and Fe-10 wt % S, good agreement was achieved between the extrapolations using our model and experimental measurements at very low pressure. Under the conditions of the outer core, the densities and bulk sound velocities of Fe-10 wt % S provide a good fit to observed seismic profiles of Earth's core. Our results imply that an upper limit of 10 wt % S content in Earth's core satisfies the geophysical constraints. Simultaneously considering other geochemical constraints, the outer core may contain about 6 wt % sulfur and 4 wt % silicon.