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

Fangyi Zhang (), Vincenzo Stagno, Lipeng Zhang, Chen Chen, Haiyang Liu, Congying Li and Weidong Sun ()
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Fangyi Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Vincenzo Stagno: Sapienza University of Rome
Lipeng Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chen Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Haiyang Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Congying Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Weidong Sun: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50778-z

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