Heterogeneous Earth’s mantle drilled at an embryonic ocean

Mantle processes control plate tectonics and exert an influence on biogeochemical cycles. However, the proportion of mantle sampled in-situ is minimal, as it is buried beneath igneous crust and sediments. Here we report the lithological characteristics of two mantle sections from an embryonic ocean drilled by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Contrary to the mantle drilled at Mid Ocean Ridges (MORs) and hyperextended passive margins, our findings reveal exceptionally heterogeneous and fertile mantle lithologies, ranging from fertile lherzolites to depleted harzburgites and dunites, interlayered with pyroxenites. Plagioclase- and clinopyroxene-rich layers, hydrous potassic magmatic veins, and mafic intrusions indicate substantial mantle refertilization and delayed inception of magmatic crust. We propose that magma-poor rifts do not require a chemically depleted mantle, too refractory to melt. Deep lithospheric processes such as mantle refertilization and prolonged lithospheric thinning delayed melt focusing and the formation of a steady-state spreading center.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2025-02-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57121-0
Citations
5
Primary Topic
Geological and Geochemical Analysis
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
9.33

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article

Heterogeneous Earth’s mantle drilled at an embryonic ocean

Chao Lei, Ashutosh Pandey, Norikatsu Akizawa, Agata Di Stefano et al.
5 citations
Nature Communications
Geological and Geochemical Analysis
9.33
article

Heterogeneous Earth’s mantle drilled at an embryonic ocean

Chao Lei, Ashutosh Pandey, Norikatsu Akizawa, Agata Di Stefano, W. Menapace, E.H. Cunningham, Maria Filomena Loreto, R.K. Koorapati, Swanne Gontharet, Brandon Shuck, P. Vannucchi, Alessio Sanfilippo, Tomoaki Morishita, Irina Y. Filina, Eirini Poulaki, L.E. Kearns, Manon Bickert, Philippe Pézard, Nevio Zitellini, Daniele Brunelli, Alberto Malinverno, Luca Magri, Qi Fu, Carlos J. Garrido, Emily R. Estes, Milena A. Rodriguez-Pilco, Noriaki Abe, Xiangyu Zhao, V.L. Pavlovics
article en
5 citations

Abstract

Mantle processes control plate tectonics and exert an influence on biogeochemical cycles. However, the proportion of mantle sampled in-situ is minimal, as it is buried beneath igneous crust and sediments. Here we report the lithological characteristics of two mantle sections from an embryonic ocean drilled by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Contrary to the mantle drilled at Mid Ocean Ridges (MORs) and hyperextended passive margins, our findings reveal exceptionally heterogeneous and fertile mantle lithologies, ranging from fertile lherzolites to depleted harzburgites and dunites, interlayered with pyroxenites. Plagioclase- and clinopyroxene-rich layers, hydrous potassic magmatic veins, and mafic intrusions indicate substantial mantle refertilization and delayed inception of magmatic crust. We propose that magma-poor rifts do not require a chemically depleted mantle, too refractory to melt. Deep lithospheric processes such as mantle refertilization and prolonged lithospheric thinning delayed melt focusing and the formation of a steady-state spreading center.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 16(1)
Kanazawa University (JP), University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JP), Louisiana State University (US), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT), Binghamton University (US), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Tasmania (AU), Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (US), Ifremer (FR), Université de Bretagne Occidentale (FR), Texas A&M University at Galveston (US), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN), University of Utah (US), University of Pavia (IT), China University of Geosciences (CN), University of Catania (IT), Sorbonne Université (FR), Discovery Place (US), Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (ES), Istituto di Scienze Marine del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IT), Géosciences Montpellier (FR), Institut de Ciències del Mar (ES), Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat : Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (FR), National Research Council (IT), University of Houston (US), University of Florence (IT), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram (IN), The University of Tokyo (JP), Columbia University (US), The University of Texas at Austin (US), Texas A&M University (US)
National Science Foundation, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
Life below water
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Geological and Geochemical Analysis
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