Highest terrestrial 3He/4He credibly from the core

F. Horton (), P. D. Asimow, K. A. Farley, J. Curtice, M. D. Kurz, J. Blusztajn, J. A. Biasi and X. M. Boyes
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F. Horton: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
P. D. Asimow: California Institute of Technology
K. A. Farley: California Institute of Technology
J. Curtice: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
M. D. Kurz: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
J. Blusztajn: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
J. A. Biasi: California Institute of Technology
X. M. Boyes: California Institute of Technology

Nature, 2023, vol. 623, issue 7985, 90-94

Abstract: Abstract The observation that many lavas associated with mantle plumes have higher 3He/4He ratios than the upper convecting mantle underpins geophysical, geodynamic and geochemical models of Earth’s deep interior. High 3He/4He ratios are thought to derive from the solar nebula or from solar-wind-irradiated material that became incorporated into Earth during early planetary accretion. Traditionally, this high-3He/4He component has been considered intrinsic to the mantle, having avoided outgassing caused by giant impacts and billions of years of mantle convection1–4. Here we report the highest magmatic 3He/4He ratio(67.2 ± 1.8 times the atmospheric ratio) yet measured in terrestrial igneous rocks, in olivines from Baffin Island lavas. We argue that the extremely high-3He/4He helium in these lavas might derive from Earth’s core5–9. The viability of the core hypothesis relaxes the long-standing constraint—based on noble gases in lavas associated with mantle plumes globally—that volatile elements from the solar nebula have survived in the mantle since the early stages of accretion.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06590-8

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