The Upper Mantle and Transition Zone

Research Article| June 01, 2008 The Upper Mantle and Transition Zone Daniel J. Frost Daniel J. Frost *Bayerisches Geoinstitut, University of Bayreuth Bayreuth, Germany D95447 E-mail: Dan.Frost@uni-bayreuth.de Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Elements (2008) 4 (3): 171–176. https://doi.org/10.2113/GSELEMENTS.4.3.171 Article history first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Daniel J. Frost; The Upper Mantle and Transition Zone. Elements 2008;; 4 (3): 171–176. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/GSELEMENTS.4.3.171 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract The upper mantle is the source of almost all magmas. It contains major transitions in rheological and thermal behaviour that control the character of plate tectonics and the style of mantle dynamics. Essential parameters in any model to describe these phenomena are the mantle's compositional and thermal structure. Most samples of the mantle come from the lithosphere. Although the composition of the underlying asthenospheric mantle can be estimated, this is made difficult by the fact that this part of the mantle partially melts and differentiates before samples ever reach the surface. The composition and conditions in the mantle at depths significantly below the lithosphere must be interpreted from geophysical observations combined with experimental data on mineral and rock properties. Fortunately, the transition zone, which extends from approximately 410 to 660 km, has a number of characteristic globally observed seismic properties that should ultimately place essential constraints on the compositional and thermal state of the mantle. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.