Diamond formation in the deep lower mantle: a high-pressure reaction of MgCO3 and SiO2

Fumiya Maeda,Tatsuya Sakamaki,Yasuo Ohishi,Seiji Kamada,Eiji Ohtani,Naohisa Hirao

doi:10.1038/srep40602

Abstract

Diamond is an evidence for carbon existing in the deep Earth. Some diamonds are considered to have originated at various depth ranges from the mantle transition zone to the lower mantle. These diamonds are expected to carry significant information about the deep Earth. Here, we determined the phase relations in the MgCO3-SiO2 system up to 152 GPa and 3,100 K using a double sided laser-heated diamond anvil cell combined with in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. MgCO3 transforms from magnesite to the high-pressure polymorph of MgCO3, phase II, above 80 GPa. A reaction between MgCO3 phase II and SiO2 (CaCl2-type SiO2 or seifertite) to form diamond and MgSiO3 (bridgmanite or post-perovsktite) was identified in the deep lower mantle conditions. These observations suggested that the reaction of the MgCO3 phase II with SiO2 causes formation of super-deep diamond in cold slabs descending into the deep lower mantle.

Highlights

Diamond is an evidence for carbon existing in the deep Earth
Carbon is circulated around the surface and interior of the Earth with subducting slabs and volcanic eruptions; subduction carries carbon-bearing rocks to the Earth’s interior and volcanic eruption expels carbon-bearing gas, lavas and rocks from the interior of the Earth[1]
The flux of subducted carbon within oceanic plates is estimated to be more than 5 Tmol/yr, almost twice as large as the expelled-carbon flux, 2–3 Tmol/yr, through arc magmatism[2]. This difference suggests the existence of carbon reservoirs in the deep Earth[1,2]

Summary

Introduction

Some diamonds are considered to have originated at various depth ranges from the mantle transition zone to the lower mantle These diamonds are expected to carry significant information about the deep Earth. MgCO3 transforms from magnesite to the high-pressure polymorph of MgCO3, phase II, above 80 GPa. A reaction between MgCO3 phase II and SiO2 (CaCl2-type SiO2 or seifertite) to form diamond and MgSiO3 (bridgmanite or post-perovsktite) was identified in the deep lower mantle conditions. The flux of subducted carbon within oceanic plates is estimated to be more than 5 Tmol/yr, almost twice as large as the expelled-carbon flux, 2–3 Tmol/yr, through arc magmatism[2] This difference suggests the existence of carbon reservoirs in the deep Earth[1,2]. Knowledge of the reactions in this system at high pressure and high temperature may provide important insights into the carbon-related processes in the deep mantle, such as the origin of super-deep diamond and melting or oxidation by release of www.nature.com/scientificreports/

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