CO2 transfer between the upper mantle and the atmosphere: temporary storage in the lower continental crust

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe CO2 atmospheric content has shown large variations over geological times. High contents (up to one order of magnitude more than present‐day values) ultimately correspond to discrete episodes of mantle degassing, either juvenile, or subduction‐related (carbon recycling). A number of arguments (e.g. the continuous volume increase of carbonate‐bearing sediments with time) suggest that, throughout the Earth's history, juvenile CO2 has formed a major contribution to the global carbon budget of the Earth.The absence of a direct relationship between major volcanic episodes and the average CO2 atmospheric content suggests that volcanoes might not be the only way by which mantle CO2 is transported to the surface. It is proposed that large quantities of juvenile CO2 could temporarily be stored in the lower continental crust during major episodes of granulite formation. These are primarily caused by magmatic underplating and they result in a vertical accretion of the crust by accumulation of CO2‐bearing, mantle‐derived magmas. Most of the CO2 migrates through the crust during post‐metamorphic evolution and isostatic restoration of the normal continental thickness. However, large quantities of CO2 can still be present in some areas, notably as high‐density fluids enclosed in minerals.