Limitations on Silicon in the Outer Core: Ultrasonic Measurements at High Temperatures and High dK/dP’s of Fe-Ni-Si Liquids at High Pressures

Abstract:

 The sound velocities of four iron-nickel-silicon liquids (Fe-5wt%Ni-6wt%Si, Fe-5wt%Ni-10wt%Si, Fe-5wt%Ni-14wt%Si and Fe-5wt%Ni-20wt%Si) are measured between 1460 and 1925 K at ambient pressures using ultrasonic interferometry. The results constrain both the dependence on Si content of the bulk modulus of these liquids, and the temperature-dependence of their elasticity. These elastic data are utilized to assess both relatively low-pressure (to 12 GPa) compressional data on Fe-Si liquids, and to extrapolate to higher pressure and temperature conditions. If a single equation of state for Fe-Ni-Si liquids of a given composition applies from low pressure to near core conditions, then our results imply that the isothermal pressure derivative of the bulk modulus of these liquids is high: likely 8 and above at high temperatures. This high value of the pressure derivative of the bulk modulus at low-pressures in Fe-Si liquids causes marked stiffening at higher pressures, leading to notable incompressibility and apparent low values of the pressure derivative of the bulk modulus at core conditions. These results reinforce the conclusion that silicon is not a major alloying component of Earth’s core.