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Effect of water activity on rates of serpentinization of olivine

Author

Listed:
  • Hector M. Lamadrid

    (Virginia Tech
    University of Toronto)

  • J. Donald Rimstidt

    (Virginia Tech)

  • Esther M. Schwarzenbach

    (Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin)

  • Frieder Klein

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Sarah Ulrich

    (Virginia Tech)

  • Andrei Dolocan

    (Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Robert J. Bodnar

    (Virginia Tech)

Abstract

The hydrothermal alteration of mantle rocks (referred to as serpentinization) occurs in submarine environments extending from mid-ocean ridges to subduction zones. Serpentinization affects the physical and chemical properties of oceanic lithosphere, represents one of the major mechanisms driving mass exchange between the mantle and the Earth’s surface, and is central to current origin of life hypotheses as well as the search for microbial life on the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. In spite of increasing interest in the serpentinization process by researchers in diverse fields, the rates of serpentinization and the controlling factors are poorly understood. Here we use a novel in situ experimental method involving olivine micro-reactors and show that the rate of serpentinization is strongly controlled by the salinity (water activity) of the reacting fluid and demonstrate that the rate of serpentinization of olivine slows down as salinity increases and H2O activity decreases.

Suggested Citation

  • Hector M. Lamadrid & J. Donald Rimstidt & Esther M. Schwarzenbach & Frieder Klein & Sarah Ulrich & Andrei Dolocan & Robert J. Bodnar, 2017. "Effect of water activity on rates of serpentinization of olivine," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms16107
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms16107
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    1. Tuğçe Beyazay & Kendra S. Belthle & Christophe Farès & Martina Preiner & Joseph Moran & William F. Martin & Harun Tüysüz, 2023. "Ambient temperature CO2 fixation to pyruvate and subsequently to citramalate over iron and nickel nanoparticles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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