Influence of the iron spin crossover in ferropericlase on the lower mantle geotherm

The iron spin crossover in ferropericlase introduces anomalies in its thermodynamics and thermoelastic properties. Here we investigate how these anomalies can affect the lower mantle geotherm using thermodynamics properties from ab initio calculations. The anomalous effect is examined in mantle aggregates consisting of mixtures of bridgmanite, ferropericlase, and CaSiO3 perovskite, with different Mg/Si ratios varying from harzburgitic to perovskitic (Mg/Si ∼ 1.5 to 0.8). We find that the anomalies introduced by the spin crossover increase the isentropic gradient and thus the geotherm proportionally to the amount of ferropericlase. The geotherms can be as much as ∼200 K hotter than the conventional adiabatic geotherm at deep lower mantle conditions. Aggregate elastic moduli and seismic velocities are also sensitive to the spin crossover and the geotherm, which impacts analyses of lower mantle velocities and composition. Key Points Anomalous behavior due spin crossover leads to temperature increments in the adiabats of lower mantle aggregates Thermoelastic properties along self‐consistent adiabats sharpen uncertainties in analyses of lower mantle composition Neglecting the effect of spin crossover would lead to erroneous interpretations of the lower mantle composition and temperature profile