Modeling Anisotropic Signature of Slab-induced Mantle Plumes from
Thermochemical Piles in the Lower Mantle
Abstract
Seismic anisotropy, observed in the lowermost mantle near Large
Low-Shear-Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), is likely caused by strong
deformation from mantle flow interacting with these regions or plume
formation. This study explores slab-induced plume generation from
thermochemical piles (LLSVPs) and resulting flow behavior using 3-D
regional-scale mantle convection models in ASPECT, coupled with mantle
fabric simulations in ECOMAN. Various models with different LLSVP
density and viscosity were tested. The modeling of the lattice preferred
orientation with predominant activity of the slip system [001](100)
for Bridgmanite and [100](001) for post-Perovskite reveals that the
lower mantle is generally isotropic, except (i) in regions of plume
conduits where vertically polarized shear waves (Vsv) are faster, and
(ii) in the lowermost mantle characterized by fast horizontally
polarized shear waves (Vsh) that transition to fast Vsv at the margins
of the rheologically stiffer LLSVP piles where deformation and upwelling
of the surrounding mantle take place.