Evolution of diamond-forming systems of the mantle transition zone: ringwoodite peritectic reaction (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 (experiment AT 20 GPa)

The peritectic reaction of ringwoodite (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 and silicate-carbonate melt with formation of magnesiowustite (Fe,Mg)O, stishovite SiO2 and Mg, Na, Ca, K-carbonates is revealed by experimental study at 20 GPa of melting relations of the multicomponent MgO-FeO-SiO2-Na2CO3-CaCO3-K2CO3 system of the Earth’s mantle transition zone. A reaction of CaCO3 and SiO2 with the formation of Ca-perovskite CaSiO3 is also detected. It is shown that the peritectic reaction of ringwoodite and melt with the formation of stishovite physic-chemically controls the fractional ultrabasic-basic evolution of both magmatic and diamond-forming systems of the deep horizons of the transition zone up to its boundary with the Earth’s lower mantle.