Articles tagged with Geochemistry
Scientists have discovered a new type of solid crystal that forms when water and table salt combine in cold and high-pressure conditions, potentially existing on the surface of Jupiter's moons. This finding has significant implications for planetary science and the search for extraterrestrial life, as it could explain the mysterious ch...
Researchers use heavy hydraulic presses to mimic early Earth's conditions and recreate the differentiation process in miniature. They found that iron melts could pass through grain boundaries, exchanging chemical elements like oxygen and sulfur with the surrounding mantle.
Researchers have found that relatively oxidized fluids fed Earth's earliest hydrothermal systems, which may have supported prebiotic organic synthesis. The discovery provides new insights into the geochemistry of these ancient systems and their potential role in the emergence of life on Earth.
Silicate weathering helps regulate Earth's climate by removing CO2 from the atmosphere at lower temperatures. The process is influenced by various landscape-scale conditions and physical processes, with temperature sensitivity varying depending on these factors.
Researchers found that 90% of Earth's mass came from non-carbonaceous material and 10% from carbonaceous chondrite material. The studies indicate that volatile elements were not evenly distributed in the solar nebula, with K coming from NCs and Zn having a mixed source.
A recent study by CSIC reveals that soil biodiversity is essential for the maintenance of urban greenspaces, supporting various ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration and water regulation. The study highlights the importance of invertebrates and microbes in these ecosystems, emphasizing their role in maintaining soil health.
Researchers found high ferric iron content in agglutinate glass from lunar soil returned by China's Chang'e-5 mission. The discovery challenges previous knowledge about lunar ferric iron and suggests ongoing charge disproportionation reactions, leading to progressively increasing ferric iron on the Moon's surface.
Researchers identified seven exotic igneous clasts in Chang'e-5 samples, providing critical information about the Moon's lithological diversity and regolith gardening process. The findings indicate that there are still unknown geological units on the moon, which may aid future lunar exploration missions.
A team led by Professor Thorsten Hoffmann uses small, portable observation drones equipped with miniaturized sensors to analyze volcanic gases and predict eruptions. The ratio of carbon dioxide levels to sulfur dioxide can reveal the likelihood of an impending eruption.
A team of scientists found evidence that 37 ichthyosaurs died in the same location, suggesting they were migrating to give birth over hundreds of thousands of years. Geochemical tests revealed no signs of environmental disturbance or mass stranding events, pointing to a more plausible explanation for their demise.
The São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Nanotechnology, Agriculture and Environment will cover topics such as nanotechnology innovation, sustainability, and biological applications. The event will feature renowned scientists as speakers and provide hands-on experiments, technical visits, and didactic activities.
The expansion of forests in Central Europe, circa 11,000 years ago, led to the decline and eventual extinction of large Ice Age mammals such as mammoth and bison. The growth of trees deprived these herbivores of their main food source, grass.
Researchers found that rusty center pivots indicate a lack of nitrate in the groundwater they feed. In fact, most wells supplying full-rust and part-rust pivots had nitrate concentrations below the EPA's safety threshold. However, some part-rust pivots showed higher nitrate levels, highlighting the need for further investigation.
A new study by researchers from the University of Oldenburg found that particles from central South America were the primary source of iron in the South Pacific during the last two glacial periods. The team's theory suggests that jet stream circulation picked up fine mineral particles on the east side of the Andes and transported them ...
Researchers discovered trapped seawater sealed in North American rock for 390 million years, shedding light on ancient oceans' chemistry and potential for storing carbon-free fuel. The study's findings could inform geologic studies and help identify subsurface locations to safely store hydrogen.
Researchers from UC Berkeley used rock analysis to determine that the valley's impressive depth was formed since 10 million years ago, with most of it carved in the past 5 million years. The study employed a novel technique called helium-4/helium-3 thermochronometry to reconstruct the temperature history of the rocks.
A WWII shipwreck in the North Sea is leaking hazardous pollutants like explosives and heavy metals, influencing marine microbiology and geochemistry. The study found varying concentrations of toxic substances depending on distance from the wreck, with highest metal levels near the coal bunker.
New research shows that Viking beadmakers in Denmark used sophisticated methods to upcycle old Roman glass mosaics into glass beads. The findings reveal a circular economy approach, where glassmakers reused valuable materials to reduce waste and conserve resources.
Researchers suggest that collisional erosion played a key role in shaping Earth's composition, contradicting initial building block theories. The findings have implications for the creation of other terrestrial planets outside the Solar System.
The analysis of particles from asteroid Ryugu has revealed a high carbon content, similar to the Sun, and the presence of rare earth metals in concentrations 100 times higher than elsewhere in the solar system. The findings suggest that Ryugu originated from a parent asteroid formed in the outer solar nebula.
The Perseverance rover has revealed a crater floor composed of igneous rocks altered by water, with core samples stored for potential return to Earth. The rover's radar scans also suggest a layered structure beneath the surface, indicating history of igneous activity and repeated exposure to liquid water.
The Perseverance rover collected igneous cumulate rocks from four sites on the floor of Jezero Crater, providing evidence of aqueous alteration. These rocks will help scientists determine when Mars' climate was conducive to lakes and rivers, addressing major questions about the planet's history.
A novel three-dimensional model of the fluid stored deep in Earth's crust along the Cascadia Subduction Zone provides new insight into how the accumulation and release of those fluids may influence seismic activity. The study's findings have applications for increasing understanding of seismic activity along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Researchers analyzed fossil corals to reveal changed ocean current circulation patterns. The data supports a scenario where the upper Pacific Ocean was more mixed during the last ice age, contributing to carbon storage and cooler climates.
A new precipitation record suggests that persistent droughts in southern Arabia contributed to the decline of the Himyarite kingdom and the emergence of Islam. The droughts, which lasted from 500 to 530 CE, coincided with a turning point in Arabian history marked by political and socioreligious transformations.
Researchers studied the Temagami BIF rock formation to understand the early Earth's interaction between ocean, continent and atmosphere. They found oxygen-producing organisms on landmasses 2.7 billion years ago, 200 million years before the Great Oxidation Event.
A new study in Frontiers in Earth Science questions the link between climate change and ecosystem diversity during the origin of dinosaurs in Argentina. The researchers found that variations in species abundance cannot be explained by climatic changes, instead attributing it to preservation and sampling biases.
Samples from asteroid Ryugu are chemically similar to Ivuna-type (CI) carbonaceous meteorites, offering insights into the Solar System's formation. The findings suggest that Ryugu samples represent the most primitive and pristine Solar System materials analyzed in a laboratory.
Researchers found that the asteroid is similar to 'Ivuna-type carbonaceous chondrites,' which date back to the solar system's beginnings. The samples show signs of having been soaked in water, but the rock itself appears relatively dry, hinting at similar formation conditions between comets and asteroids.
A study by researchers at the University of Oldenburg found that spider webs are contaminated with varying levels of microplastic particles, including PET and PVC. The team discovered that the amount of plastic particles in the webs depends on location, with roads having high traffic volumes producing more microplastics.
A multidisciplinary project aims to develop a decision-making tool to estimate the risk of water contamination in flooded areas. The research team will collect public data and conduct field work to test their approach in small study areas, ultimately enabling Québec to reduce health risks by better protecting water quality.
Researchers analyzed iron samples from asteroid cores to determine the timing of asteroid core cooling and collisions. The study suggests that violent collisions occurred within a 7.8-11.7 million year window after solar system formation, indicating a chaotic early phase.
Researchers study the sea-surface microlayer, a biogeochemical reactor where organisms adapt to harsh conditions like UV radiation and fluctuating temperatures. The team aims to understand biological, chemical, and physical interactions in this thin layer, influencing global climate.
Researchers found that around 3.8 billion years ago, a major transition in the geochemistry of zircons occurred, suggesting the onset of plate tectonics. This discovery provides hints about how the planet became habitable and under which conditions the earliest forms of life developed.
Scientists propose a new mechanism by which oxygen accumulated in the atmosphere, shifting the planet out of its low-oxygen equilibrium. Interactions between certain marine microbes and minerals in ocean sediments may have prevented oxygen consumption, setting off a self-amplifying process.
New research reveals that magma's water content controls its storage depth in active arc volcanos, contradicting previous assumptions. The findings have significant implications for refining physics-based eruption-forecasting models.
Researchers found variations in carbon isotopes in younger kimberlites, suggesting the Cambrian Explosion affected the Earth's lower mantle. The study suggests that changes in marine sediments leave profound traces on the Earth's interior.
Researchers used lab-based mimicry to reveal a new crystal structure that has major implications for our understanding of the interiors of large, rocky exoplanets. This discovery could have revolutionary implications for how we think about the dynamics of exoplanet interiors.
Researchers created a 3D tectonic model combining geological, geophysical and satellite data to resolve timescales between earthquakes and mountain range formation. The study reveals that most uplift occurs in the period between earthquakes, improving local seismic hazard maps.
Researchers found that Earth's inner core is a mixture of solid iron sublattice and liquid-like light elements, known as superionic state. This discovery provides critical clues for understanding the softness and seismic velocities of the inner core.
The Congo Basin's tropical forest is a unique greenhouse gas emitter, with low nitrous oxide emissions but high methane releases, particularly in swamp forests. Soils play a crucial role in converting nitrous oxide to harmless nitrogen, affecting the forest's overall climate gas balance.
Researchers found that low volcanic temperatures caused high sulfur dioxide emissions, leading to short-term cooling and contributing to the fourth mass extinction. The study suggests that this cooling enabled small-bodied dinosaurs to grow and prosper, ultimately thriving during the Jurassic period.
A study published in Scientific Reports uses fossilized mollusk shells to investigate ocean chemistry during the end-Permian mass extinction. The analysis found no signs of severe ocean acidification, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers found that only 45% of hotspot volcanoes are hot enough to actively upwell from the deep mantle, while 15% are cold. Cooler hotspots may originate at upper mantle depths or be fed by cooled deep plumes.
A new study analyzing the rock record rules out atmospheric oxygen before the Great Oxygenation Event, potentially rewriting our understanding of Earth's past. The research team used high-resolution techniques to inspect specimens of the rock, finding evidence that chemical data suggesting early oxygen may have been introduced later.
Researchers have uncovered the truth behind the missing volatiles in meteorites, revealing a massive shockwave phenomenon that stripped elements from planetary building blocks. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of Earth's geochemical evolution and the Solar System's youth.
A recent study analyzing air bubbles preserved in Antarctic ice for up to 1.5 million years suggests that glacial erosion is likely responsible for the decline of atmospheric oxygen levels over the past 800,000 years.
Researchers have synthesized a new form of carbon glass with three-dimensional bonds, the hardest known glass material. The discovery has potential for mass production and opens up new possibilities in devices and electronics.
Researchers used stalagmites from Jiangjun cave in China to study the response of the Indian summer monsoon to meltwater pulses in the North Atlantic. The analysis revealed that a stronger meltwater pulse caused a drastic reduction in monsoon intensity, while minor events had less impact.
A study published in Science Advances reveals that felsic volcanism in South China drove the end-Permian mass extinction, with extreme elemental copper enrichment and light isotopic compositions indicating large-scale eruptions near the studied outcrops. This finding strengthens the case against the Siberian Traps as the sole trigger f...
Researchers from UNLV have discovered a new mineral, davemaoite, which originated between 410-560 miles deep within the Earth's lower mantle. The calcium silicate compound was trapped in a diamond and preserved due to its incredible strength, making it possible for scientists to study its structure.
Researchers identified a high-pressure calcium silicate perovskite, named davemaoite, trapped inside a deep-earth diamond. This discovery confirms the existence of a new mineral that concentrates elements incompatible in the upper mantle, including rare-earth elements and radioactive isotopes.
MARUM researchers simulate alternative hydrocarbon formation through reduction of acetic acid, proposing a new explanation for unusual isotope patterns. The findings provide insight into the rapid thermal alteration of sedimentary organic matter and its role in the global carbon cycle.
Research finds climate stabilized due to increased rock weathering and erosion, which converts CO2 into insoluble carbonate; this process took 20,000-50,000 years. Lithium isotope analysis supports theory, showing increased weathering and erosion during Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.
Researchers analyzed Chang'e-5 samples and found that the basalt is approximately two billion years old, indicating late volcanic activity on the Moon. This discovery provides calibration for the crater-counting technique used to date lunar surfaces and requires alternative explanations, such as tidal heating.
Researchers found that dough mixing vats and millstones from Roman-era ruins were made from specific rock types that improved each tool's function. The stones were sourced locally, challenging a theory that some millstones were imported from Italy.
A recent study found small but detectable increases in salt concentrations in surrounding surface waters near unconventional oil and gas development sites. The research, which analyzed data from over 46,000 wells and 60,000 surface water samples, suggests that the contamination occurs several months after well installation.
Researchers found that arsenic drives the concentration of gold, explaining how iron sulfides capture and release gold. The study may lead to new sources of gold and improved processing methods.
Mark Torres, an assistant professor at Rice University, has won the Geochemical Society's top honor for early-career scientists. His research focuses on interactions between the hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and crust.
The Greenland Ice Sheet holds enough water to raise sea levels nearly 24 feet. A new project, GreenDrill, aims to drill through the ice to the underlying bedrock, revealing the ice sheet's past in unprecedented detail and enabling more accurate predictions of how it may add to rising seas.