Ferropericlase or magnesiowüstite is a magnesium/iron oxide [(Mg, Fe)O] that is interpreted to be one of the main constituents of the Earth’s lower mantle together with silicate perovskite, a magnesium/iron silicate with a perovskite structure. It is a class of minerals, mixed oxides of magnesium and iron, that are abundant in the earth’s lower mantle (second only to perovskite). is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth’s lower mantle, thereby making it an essential player in our perception of the planet’s interior.
Fig: Ferropericlase or magnesiowüstite
Spin transition zone
Changes in the spin state of electrons in iron in mantle minerals have been studied experimentally in ferropericlase. Samples are subject to the conditions of the lower mantle in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell and the spin-state is measured using synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy. Results indicate that the change from a high to low spin state in iron occurs with increasing depth over a range from 1000 km to 2200 km. The change in spin state is expected to be associated with a higher than expected increase in density with depth.
Occurrence
Ferropericlase has been found as inclusions in a few natural diamonds. An unusually high iron content in one suite of diamonds has been associated with an origin from the lowermost mantle.
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