Primordial and recycled helium isotope signatures in the mantle transition zone

S. Timmerman; M. Honda; A. D. Burnham; Y. Amelin; S. Woodland; D. G. Pearson; A. L. Jaques; C. Le Losq; V. C. Bennett; G. P. Bulanova; C. B. Smith; J. W. Harris; E. Tohver

doi:10.1126/science.aax5293

Primordial and recycled helium isotope signatures in the mantle transition zone

S. Timmerman^*, M. Honda, A. D. Burnham, Y. Amelin, S. Woodland, D. G. Pearson, A. L. Jaques, C. Le Losq, V. C. Bennett, G. P. Bulanova, C. B. Smith, J. W. Harris, E. Tohver

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Isotope compositions of basalts provide information about the chemical reservoirs in Earth’s interior and play a critical role in defining models of Earth’s structure. However, the helium isotope signature of the mantle below depths of a few hundred kilometers has been difficult to measure directly. This information is a vital baseline for understanding helium isotopes in erupted basalts. We measured He-Sr-Pb isotope ratios in superdeep diamond fluid inclusions from the transition zone (depth of 410 to 660 kilometers) unaffected by degassing and shallow crustal contamination. We found extreme He-C-Pb-Sr isotope variability, with high ³He/⁴He ratios related to higher helium concentrations. This indicates that a less degassed, high-³He/⁴He deep mantle source infiltrates the transition zone, where it interacts with recycled material, creating the diverse compositions recorded in ocean island basalts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	692-694
Number of pages	3
Journal	Science
Volume	365
Issue number	6454
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax5293
Publication status	Published - 2019

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title = "Primordial and recycled helium isotope signatures in the mantle transition zone",

abstract = "Isotope compositions of basalts provide information about the chemical reservoirs in Earth{\textquoteright}s interior and play a critical role in defining models of Earth{\textquoteright}s structure. However, the helium isotope signature of the mantle below depths of a few hundred kilometers has been difficult to measure directly. This information is a vital baseline for understanding helium isotopes in erupted basalts. We measured He-Sr-Pb isotope ratios in superdeep diamond fluid inclusions from the transition zone (depth of 410 to 660 kilometers) unaffected by degassing and shallow crustal contamination. We found extreme He-C-Pb-Sr isotope variability, with high 3He/4He ratios related to higher helium concentrations. This indicates that a less degassed, high-3He/4He deep mantle source infiltrates the transition zone, where it interacts with recycled material, creating the diverse compositions recorded in ocean island basalts.",

author = "S. Timmerman and M. Honda and Burnham, {A. D.} and Y. Amelin and S. Woodland and Pearson, {D. G.} and Jaques, {A. L.} and {Le Losq}, C. and Bennett, {V. C.} and Bulanova, {G. P.} and Smith, {C. B.} and Harris, {J. W.} and E. Tohver",

note = "Publisher Copyright: 2017 {\textcopyright} The Authors, some rights reserved",

year = "2019",

doi = "10.1126/science.aax5293",

language = "English",

volume = "365",

pages = "692--694",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6454",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Primordial and recycled helium isotope signatures in the mantle transition zone

AU - Timmerman, S.

AU - Honda, M.

AU - Burnham, A. D.

AU - Amelin, Y.

AU - Woodland, S.

AU - Pearson, D. G.

AU - Jaques, A. L.

AU - Le Losq, C.

AU - Bennett, V. C.

AU - Bulanova, G. P.

AU - Smith, C. B.

AU - Harris, J. W.

AU - Tohver, E.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Isotope compositions of basalts provide information about the chemical reservoirs in Earth’s interior and play a critical role in defining models of Earth’s structure. However, the helium isotope signature of the mantle below depths of a few hundred kilometers has been difficult to measure directly. This information is a vital baseline for understanding helium isotopes in erupted basalts. We measured He-Sr-Pb isotope ratios in superdeep diamond fluid inclusions from the transition zone (depth of 410 to 660 kilometers) unaffected by degassing and shallow crustal contamination. We found extreme He-C-Pb-Sr isotope variability, with high 3He/4He ratios related to higher helium concentrations. This indicates that a less degassed, high-3He/4He deep mantle source infiltrates the transition zone, where it interacts with recycled material, creating the diverse compositions recorded in ocean island basalts.

AB - Isotope compositions of basalts provide information about the chemical reservoirs in Earth’s interior and play a critical role in defining models of Earth’s structure. However, the helium isotope signature of the mantle below depths of a few hundred kilometers has been difficult to measure directly. This information is a vital baseline for understanding helium isotopes in erupted basalts. We measured He-Sr-Pb isotope ratios in superdeep diamond fluid inclusions from the transition zone (depth of 410 to 660 kilometers) unaffected by degassing and shallow crustal contamination. We found extreme He-C-Pb-Sr isotope variability, with high 3He/4He ratios related to higher helium concentrations. This indicates that a less degassed, high-3He/4He deep mantle source infiltrates the transition zone, where it interacts with recycled material, creating the diverse compositions recorded in ocean island basalts.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070721095&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1126/science.aax5293

DO - 10.1126/science.aax5293

M3 - Article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 365

SP - 692

EP - 694

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6454

ER -

Primordial and recycled helium isotope signatures in the mantle transition zone

Abstract

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