9628220 Agee The proposed experiments are to determine the wetting behavior of molten Fe-alloy in perovskite and magnesiowuestite solid matrices. These experiments will investigate the influence of lower mantle minerals on molten Fe-alloy percolation. Results will place important constraints on models of Earth and planetary core formation. Three experimental strategies will be used: (1) Equilibrate (Mg,Fe)SiO3-perovskite, magnesiowuestite, and molten Fe-alloy in a multi-anvil device at subsolidus, high-pressure conditions (~ 20 GPa), from Homestead L5 chondrite. Dihedral angles of crystal-crystal-liquid interfaces will be measure on quenched run products to quantify grain boundary wetting and alloy melt connectivity. (2) Equilibrate synthetic mixtures of CaSiO3-perovskite, magnesiowustite, and molten Fe-alloy at subsolidus temperatures in the pressure range 16-20 GPa. These experiments will provide a cross check on the dihedral angle measurements and textural equilibrium. (3) Experiments will be done to examine the wetting angle of perovskites + magnesiowuestite in a sulfur-free system. These experiments will offer new data on the relationship between alloy composition and wetting angle behavior.
