Abstract
Earth’s deep carbon cycle affects atmospheric CO2, climate, and habitability. Owing to the extreme solubility of CaCO3, aqueous fluids released from the subducting slab could extract all carbon from the slab. However, recycling efficiency is estimated at only around 40%. Data from carbonate inclusions, petrology, and Mg isotope systematics indicate Ca2+ in carbonates is replaced by Mg2+ and other cations during subduction. Here we determined the solubility of dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] and rhodochrosite (MnCO3), and put an upper limit on that of magnesite (MgCO3) under subduction zone conditions. Solubility decreases at least two orders of magnitude as carbonates become Mg-rich. This decreased solubility, coupled with heterogeneity of carbon and water subduction, may explain discrepancies in carbon recycling estimates. Over a range of slab settings, we find aqueous dissolution responsible for mobilizing 10 to 92% of slab carbon. Globally, aqueous fluids mobilise {35}_{-17}^{+20}% ({27}_{-13}^{+16} Mt/yr) of subducted carbon from subducting slabs.
Highlights
Earth’s deep carbon cycle affects atmospheric CO2, climate, and habitability
Two modes of tectonic carbon cycling are associated with subduction zones[1]
Sedimentary carbon dominates the carbon input into the mantle with 80% of the carbon stored in calcite and aragonite shells and 20% as organic carbon[3]
Summary
Earth’s deep carbon cycle affects atmospheric CO2, climate, and habitability. Owing to the extreme solubility of CaCO3, aqueous fluids released from the subducting slab could extract all carbon from the slab. Solubility of carbonates in high P–T subduction zone fluids. Taking into account estimated water flux, and effect of P–T on carbonate mineral solubility, we used experimental and Mineral and Fluid
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