Solidification of the Earth’s core: The main energy source in the formation of trappean provinces and flood basalts

Abstract

The discovery of a layer of increased density in the liquid core at the boundary with the solid core gives grounds to suggest that solidification of the solid core occurs with an increase in total core volume and is accompanied by an increase in internal pressure in the core. This makes it possible to suggest a translational mechanism of energy transfer from the core to the Earth’s surface. It is suggested that the restoration of lithostatic equilibrium occurs via rising of a column of mantle material, uplift as result of elastic mantle deformation of the boundary of the transition layer at a depth of 420 km, and the formation of rising at the surface.