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Scientists drilled the deepest hole ever in Earth's mantle rock, reaching 4,160 feet (1,268 meters) below the Atlantic seabed.
They obtained a large core sample, offering insights into the mantle's composition and chemical processes.
The mantle makes up over 80% of Earth's volume and is located between the outer crust and the hot core.
Mantle rocks are usually inaccessible, but can be found at seafloor spreading locations like the Atlantis Massif, an underwater mountain in the Atlantic.
Using the JOIDES Resolution vessel, researchers drilled 2,800 feet (850 meters) below the ocean surface and recovered a 2,907-foot (886-meter) long core sample.
The recovery was significant because previous attempts only reached 200 meters (656 feet) with low rock recovery.
The core sample, about 2-1/2 inches (6.5 cm) in diameter, showed how the mineral olivine reacted with seawater at different temperatures.
This reaction releases hydrogen, forming compounds like methane, which support microbial life—potentially linked to the origin of life on Earth.
The drill site was near the Lost City Hydrothermal Field, where super-heated water vents from the seabed.
olivine
The core sample is believed to represent mantle rock beneath the Lost City vents, a possible environment where life on Earth could have originated.
The core sample is still being analyzed, revealing a more extensive history of melting in the upper mantle than expected.
The mineral orthopyroxene in the sample showed a wide range of abundance, related to the flow of melt through the upper mantle.
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