Longest rock core from Earth's mantle opens window into the origins of life
The U.S. research vessel JOIDES Resolution retrieved a 1,268-meter rock core from the Earth's mantle, aiming to explore life's origins and clarify methane sources through chemical reactions in extreme environments.
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A recent expedition aboard the U.S. research vessel JOIDES Resolution has successfully retrieved the longest rock core from the Earth's mantle, measuring 1,268 meters. This historic drilling took place in the North Atlantic, near the Lost City hydrothermal vent field, and is part of the International Ocean Drilling Project. The core samples are believed to provide insights into the chemical reactions between seawater and mantle rocks, which may have contributed to the origins of life on Earth. The process of serpentinization, where the mineral olivine transforms into serpentine, releases hydrogen and methane, creating conditions conducive to microbial life. The research team, led by Dutch geologist Johan Lissenberg, aims to analyze the microbial content of the samples and understand the factors influencing life in these extreme environments. The findings could also clarify the origins of methane in these settings, whether from biological or geological processes. The expedition marks a significant advancement in geological research, as the previous record for mantle rock sampling was only 200 meters. The results of this study have been published in the journal Science, highlighting the potential for further understanding of life's development on Earth and the geological processes that shape our planet.
- The JOIDES Resolution retrieved a 1,268-meter-long rock core from the Earth's mantle.
- The expedition aims to explore the origins of life through chemical reactions between seawater and mantle rocks.
- Serpentinization is a key process that may have facilitated the emergence of microbial life.
- The research could clarify the sources of methane in extreme environments.
- This expedition sets a new record for the depth of mantle rock sampling.
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