Bridgmanite is believed to compose up to 93% of the lower mantle above around 2,700 km and therefore is
probably the most abundant mineral in the Earth, but we cannot get down to the lower mantle, and bridgmanite
does not exist in terrestrial surface deposits, but now it has been identified in a meteorite; read all about it
here:
https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/earth-building-bridgmanite-43020
also
It is argued that six minerals are essential for the emergence of life; they are bridgmanite,
olivine, pyrrhotite,
serpentine, fougèrite and
mackinawite
(Russell & Ponce, 2020, Life: 10(11): 291).
Images
Formula: MgSiO3
Unclassified silicate, bridgmanite subgroup,
perovskite supergroup,
polymorph of akimotoite,
clinoenstatite and
enstatite
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Environments
Meteorites
Deep Mantle environments
Bridgmanite is the dominant mineral of the silicate lower mantle of the Earth. It is also found as an
impact-induced shock-metamorphic phase enclosed in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 glass in meteorites. Associated
minerals include akimotoite,
ringwoodite, clinopyroxene
with dominant diopside and jadeite
components, majorite, periclase,
wadsleyite, troilite and
iron
(HOM).
Localities
The type locality, the Tenham meteorite, Tenham Station, Windorah, Barcoo Shire, Queensland, Australia, is a
chondritic meteorite. The impact shock pressure is
estimated to be 220 to 260 kbar, temperature 2000°C. Bridgmanite occurs as submicrometer-sized crystals in
shock-induced melt veins
(Mindat).
At the Sorriso river, Juína, Mato Grosso, Brazil, merrillite was
identified as an inclusion in lower-mantle diamonds, associated with
bridgmanite, perovskite and
ferropericlase
(AM 107.1652–1655).
The Katol meteorite, Nagpur Division, Maharashtra, India, is a
chondrite that fell over the town of Katol in
the afternoon of 22 May 2012. At least 30 stones totaling over 13 kg were collected, and bridgmanite was
found in them
(Mindat).
The Tissint Martian meteorite, Tata Cercle, Tata Province, Souss-Massa Region, Morocco, is an
achondrite, stony Martian
shergottite that fell on 18 July 2011. It hosts
bridgmanite.
The Koffiefontein Mine, Koffiefontein, Letsemeng Local Municipality, Xhariep District Municipality, Free State,
South Africa, is a diamond mine in a
kimberlite pipe. Bridgmanite has been found here as
inclusions in diamond.
Back to Minerals