Hf-Nd isotope evidence for a transient dynamic regime in the early terrestrial mantle

Details Hf-Nd isotope evidence for a transient dynamic regime in the early terrestrial mantle Hf-Nd isotope evidence for a transient dynamic regime in the early terrestrial mantle

Mar 2000

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000natur.404..488a&link_type=abstract

Nature, Volume 404, Issue 6777, pp. 488-490 (2000).

Mathematics

Logic

13

Scientific paper

Modern basalts have seemingly lost all `memory' of the primitive Earth's mantle except for an ambiguous isotopic signal observed in some rare gases. Although the Earth is expected to have reached a thermal steady state within several hundred million years (refs 3, 4) of accretion, it is not known how and when the initial chemical fractionations left over from planetary accretion (and perhaps a stage involving a magma ocean) were overshadowed by fractionations imposed by modern-style geodynamics. Because of the lack of samples older than 4 Gyr, this early dynamic regime of the Earth is poorly understood. Here we compare published Hf-Nd isotope data on supracrustals from Isua, Greenland, with similar data on lunar rocks and the SNC (martian) meteorites, and show that, about 3.8 Gyr ago, the geochemical signature of the Archaean mantle was partly inherited from the initial differentiation of the Earth. The observed features seem to indicate that the planet at that time was still losing a substantial amount of primordial heat. The survival of remnants from an early layering in the modern deep mantle may account for some unexplained seismological, thermal and geochemical characteristics of the Earth as observed today.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Hf-Nd isotope evidence for a transient dynamic regime in the early terrestrial mantle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Hf-Nd isotope evidence for a transient dynamic regime in the early terrestrial mantle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hf-Nd isotope evidence for a transient dynamic regime in the early terrestrial mantle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1823615