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The constant oxidation state of Earth’s mantle since the Hadean

Author

Listed:
  • Fangyi Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Vincenzo Stagno

    (Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Lipeng Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Laoshan Laboratory)

  • Chen Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Haiyang Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Congying Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Laoshan Laboratory)

  • Weidong Sun

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Laoshan Laboratory
    University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Determining the evolutionary history of mantle oxygen fugacity (fo2) is crucial, as it controls the fo2 of mantle-derived melts and regulates atmospheric composition through volcanic outgassing. However, the evolution of mantle fo2 remains controversial. Here, we present a comprehensive dataset of plume-derived komatiites, picrites, and ambient mantle-derived (meta)basalts, spanning from ~3.8 Ga to the present, to investigate mantle thermal and redox states evolution. Our results indicate that fo2 of both mantle plume-derived and ambient mantle-derived melts was lower during the Archean compared to the post-Archean period. This increase in the fo2 of mantle-derived melts over time correlates with decreases in mantle potential temperature and melting depth. By normalizing fo2 to a constant reference pressure (potential oxygen fugacity), we show that the fo2 of both the mantle plume and ambient upper mantle has remained constant since the Hadean. These findings suggest that secular mantle cooling reduced melting depth, increasing the fo2 of mantle-derived melts and contributing to atmospheric oxygenation.

Suggested Citation

  • Fangyi Zhang & Vincenzo Stagno & Lipeng Zhang & Chen Chen & Haiyang Liu & Congying Li & Weidong Sun, 2024. "The constant oxidation state of Earth’s mantle since the Hadean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50778-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50778-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lei Gao & Shuwen Liu & Peter A. Cawood & Fangyang Hu & Jintuan Wang & Guozheng Sun & Yalu Hu, 2022. "Oxidation of Archean upper mantle caused by crustal recycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Alberto E. Saal & Erik H. Hauri & Charles H. Langmuir & Michael R. Perfit, 2002. "Vapour undersaturation in primitive mid-ocean-ridge basalt and the volatile content of Earth's upper mantle," Nature, Nature, vol. 419(6906), pages 451-455, October.
    3. Shintaro Kadoya & David C. Catling & Robert W. Nicklas & Igor S. Puchtel & Ariel D. Anbar, 2020. "Mantle data imply a decline of oxidizable volcanic gases could have triggered the Great Oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Claude Herzberg & Esteban Gazel, 2009. "Petrological evidence for secular cooling in mantle plumes," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7238), pages 619-622, April.
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    6. Dante Canil, 1997. "Vanadium partitioning and the oxidation state of Archaean komatiite magmas," Nature, Nature, vol. 389(6653), pages 842-845, October.
    7. Alain Burgisser & Bruno Scaillet, 2007. "Redox evolution of a degassing magma rising to the surface," Nature, Nature, vol. 445(7124), pages 194-197, January.
    8. Vincenzo Stagno & Dickson O. Ojwang & Catherine A. McCammon & Daniel J. Frost, 2013. "The oxidation state of the mantle and the extraction of carbon from Earth’s interior," Nature, Nature, vol. 493(7430), pages 84-88, January.
    9. Alexander V. Sobolev & Evgeny V. Asafov & Andrey A. Gurenko & Nicholas T. Arndt & Valentina G. Batanova & Maxim V. Portnyagin & Dieter Garbe-Schönberg & Stepan P. Krasheninnikov, 2016. "Komatiites reveal a hydrous Archaean deep-mantle reservoir," Nature, Nature, vol. 531(7596), pages 628-632, March.
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