Elastic wave velocities of peridotite KLB-1 at mantle pressures and implications for mantle velocity modeling

Compressional (VP) and shear (VS) wave velocities of a synthetic KLB‐1 peridotite were measured for the first time up to 10 GPa using ultrasonic interferometry. Analysis of the P and S wave velocities yielded K0 = 123(1) GPa, K0′ = 5.1(2), G0 = 75(1) GPa, and G0′= 1.3(1) for the bulk and shear moduli and their pressure derivatives. Comparison with Voigt‐Reuss‐Hill (VRH) calculations based on literature elasticity data for its constituent minerals indicates that the experimentally measured P and S wave velocities, densities, bulk sound velocities, and VP/VS ratios fall close to the lower limit of VRH averages associated with the uncertainties of the mineral elasticity data. A comparison with previous modeling of mantle compositions implies that the velocities for an aggregate with the pyrolitic composition of KLB‐1 are in close agreement with seismic data at the depths of the Earth's upper mantle. Key Points Hot pressing of high‐quality synthetic mantle rocks with pyrolitic composition First results on P and S wave velocities on KLB‐1 peridotite to mantle pressures Direct comparison between measured velocities and mantle modeling approaches