Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
6-14-2013
Department
Oceanography
Abstract
The oxidation state of Earth’s upper mantle both influences and records mantle evolution, but systematic fine-scale variations in upper mantle oxidation state have not previously been recognized in mantle-derived lavas from mid-ocean ridges. Through a global survey of mid-ocean ridge basalt glasses, we show that mantle oxidation state varies systematically as a function of mantle source composition. Negative correlations between Fe3+/ΣFe ratios and indices of mantle enrichment such as 87Sr/86Sr, 208Pb/204Pb, Ba/La, and Nb/Zr ratios reveal that enriched mantle is more reduced than depleted mantle. Because upper mantle carbon may act to simultaneously reduce iron and generate melts that share geochemical traits with our reduced samples, we propose that carbon creates magmas at ridges that are reduced and enriched.
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Cottrell, E., Kelley, K. (2013). Redox heterogeneity in MORB as a function of mantle source. Science 340, 1314-1317.
Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1233299
1233299TablesS1S2S3.xlsx (98 kB)
1233299fig1.eps (1277 kB)
1233299fig2.eps (1161 kB)
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