Liquid carbon in the lower mantle?

Elemental carbon in the lower mantle might be a metallic liquid. If present in sufficient concentrations, this substance might promote the ascent of heat and matter from the deep mantle by locally increasing thermal conductivity and reducing viscosity. We propose that such carbon in the lower mantle...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geology (Boulder) 1983-04, Vol.11 (4), p.219-220
Main Authors: Dickey, John S, Bassett, William A, Bird, John M, Weathers, Maura S
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Elemental carbon in the lower mantle might be a metallic liquid. If present in sufficient concentrations, this substance might promote the ascent of heat and matter from the deep mantle by locally increasing thermal conductivity and reducing viscosity. We propose that such carbon in the lower mantle induces mantle plumes.
ISSN:0091-7613
DOI:10.1130/0091-7613(1983)112.0.CO;2