Scientists extract record Earth mantle sample to probe life's origins
Updated
Updated · WION · May 4
Scientists extract record Earth mantle sample to probe life's origins
13 articles · Updated · WION · May 4
The 4,160-foot continuous core, drilled in 2023 near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge's Atlantis Massif by Cardiff University's Johan Lissenberg team, far exceeded earlier 650-foot attempts.
Analysis found the mantle had melted more than expected and preserved pathways used by magma, offering clues to how ocean-floor volcanoes are fed and eruptions begin.
Researchers said olivine reacting with hot seawater provides a real-world model for chemical conditions that may have generated life's building blocks, creating a long-term reference for Earth scientists.
A rock core has rewritten Earth’s history. What does it reveal about future volcanic eruptions?
Could rocks from Earth’s mantle hold the secret to both clean energy and carbon capture?
Did scientists just find the cradle of life deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean?
Historic Recovery of a 1,268-Meter Upper Mantle Core from Atlantis Massif: Breakthroughs and Future Challenges
Overview
In spring 2023, IODP Expedition 399 achieved a historic milestone by recovering a 1,268-meter core from Earth's upper mantle at the Atlantis Massif. This core revealed unusual mantle features, including low pyroxene content and melt migration patterns that challenge existing models. It also showed extensive hydrothermal alteration regulated by gabbroic intrusions and confirmed deep serpentinization processes producing abundant hydrogen and methane. These findings explain why the nearby Lost City vents emit far more hydrogen and methane than typical vents, offering a unique window into early Earth conditions and potential habitats on icy moons. However, with the retirement of the JOIDES Resolution and technical limits of current drilling, future deep mantle exploration faces significant challenges.