High P‐T Sound Velocities of Amphiboles: Implications for Low‐Velocity Anomalies in Metasomatized Upper Mantle.

Metasomatized mantle xenoliths containing hydrous minerals, such as amphiboles, serpentine, and phlogopite, likely represent the potential mineralogical compositions of the metasomatized upper mantle, where low seismic velocities are commonly observed. This study presents the first experimentally determined single‐crystal elasticity model of an Fe‐free near Ca, Mg‐endmember amphibole tremolite at high pressure and/or temperature conditions (maximum pressure 7.3(1) GPa, maximum temperature 700 K) using Brillouin spectroscopy. We found that sound velocities of amphiboles strongly depend on the Fe content. We then calculated the sound velocities of 441 hydrous‐mineral‐bearing mantle xenoliths collected around the globe, and quantitatively evaluated the roles that amphiboles, phlogopite and serpentine played in producing the low velocity anomalies in the metasomatized upper mantle. Plain Language Summary: Amphiboles are the most widely distributed hydrous minerals resulting from metasomatism in the upper most mantle. We measured sound velocities of tremolite (Ca, Mg endmember of the amphibole series) at high pressures and high temperatures by Brillouin spectroscopy. Based on global hydrous‐mineral‐bearing mantle xenoliths record, we quantitively evaluated the contributions of amphiboles, serpentine, and phlogopite to low velocity anomalies and water storage in the upper most mantle. We found the existence of hydrous minerals (amphiboles, serpentine, and phlogopite) remains a viable explanation for the low velocity anomalies in the upper most mantle (e.g., mid‐lithosphere discontinuity). Compared to serpentine and phlogopite, although the amount of velocity reduction caused by amphibolization is moderate, the formation of amphiboles does not require K, Al, Si‐rich environments like phlogopite, or exceedingly water‐rich environments like serpentine. Key Points: The single‐crystal elasticity of tremolite is determined by Brillouin spectroscopy up to 7.3 GPa and 700 KSound velocities of uppermost mantle amphiboles mainly depend on Fe contentHydrous minerals (amphiboles, serpentine, phlogopite) are plausible causes of the low velocity anomalies in the uppermost mantle [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]