Non-equilibrium degassing and a primordial source for helium in ocean-island volcanism

Helge M. Gonnermann () and Sujoy Mukhopadhyay
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Helge M. Gonnermann: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
Sujoy Mukhopadhyay: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

Nature, 2007, vol. 449, issue 7165, 1037-1040

Abstract: Paradox? What paradox? The Earth contains two helium isotopes, primordial 3He, which was incorporated during Earth's formation, and 4He, mainly produced through time by uranium and thorium decay. Lavas erupted from hotspots, such as Hawaii, have relatively high 3He/4He ratios and it has therefore been put forward that they are derived from an undegassed, primordial mantle reservoir. Paradoxically, however, total helium concentrations are observed to be much lower in hotspot lavas than expected. This has put the conventional view of the structure and dynamics of Earth's mantle into question. Helge Gonnermann and Sujoy Mukhopadhyay now show that this apparent 'paradox' can be explained by the different rates at which noble gases diffuse into gas bubbles from the erupting magma. The results affirm that the existence of a primordial mantle reservoir could indeed explain the anomalous 3He/4He ratios observed in such hotspot lavas.

Date: 2007
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DOI: 10.1038/nature06240

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