Using first-principles calculations we have studied the valence and structural transitions of the rare earth monotellurides RTe (R = Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb) under pressure. The self-interaction corrected local spin-density approximation is used to establish the ground state valence configuration as a function of volume for the RTe in both the NaCl (B1) and CsCl (B...

B y far the bulk of our planet is hidden from view, within the earth, under high pressures and temperatures. The behavior of this material dictates the formation, evolution, and present state of the solid earth. Recent geophysical and geochemical studies of the planet present us with a rich array of large-scale processes and phenomena that are not fully understood. These range from the fate of ...

Thermal conductivity of mantle materials controlling the heat balance and thermal evolution of the Earth remains poorly constrained as the available experimental and theoretical techniques are limited in probing minerals under the relevant conditions. We report measurements of thermal conductivity of MgO at high pressure up to 60 GPa and 300 K via diamond anvil cells using the time-domain therm...

The deepest rocks known from within Earth are fragments of normal mantle ( approximately 400 km) and metamorphosed sediments ( approximately 350 km), both found exhumed in continental collision terranes. Here, we report fragments of a highly reduced deep mantle environment from at least 300 km, perhaps very much more, extracted from chromite of a Tibetan ophiolite. The sample consists, in part,...

Based on a pyrolitic compositional model, the lower mantle is mainly made of ferropericlase, aluminous silicate perovskite, and calcium perovskite. Silicate perovskite transforms into silicate post-perovskite structure just above the core-mantle region, the D" layer. The existence of iron in the lower-mantle minerals can affect a broad spectrum of the minerals’ physical and chemical properties....

1.1. Strategy and Techniques For a rock of given mineralogy and microstructure, the variables important in determining strength are pressure, temperature, strain, strain history, strain rate, pore fluid pressure, grain size, fugacities of water and other volatiles, and chemical activities of the mineral components. Although earth scientists may now duplicate pressures and temperatures appropria...

Dam construction is one of the challenges among large-scale projects of a country. Among different types of dams, due to special features, earth dams are the most kind of dams that were constructed in Iran in the past three decades. Features such as efficiency and stability of earth dams have an important effect on their operation and prevent them to be damaged. Taham dam is clay core dam which...