New Study Challenges Mantle Oxidation Theory

Smithsonian scientists conduct new research on ancient ‘time capsule’ rocks, dating back at least 2.5 billion years.
Researchers at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have conducted a new analysis of rocks believed to be at least 2.5 billion years old, shedding light on the chemical history of Earth’s mantle, the layer beneath the planet’s crust. Their findings enhance our understanding of Earth’s earliest geologic processes and contribute to a long-standing scientific debate regarding the planet’s geologic history. Notably, the study provides evidence that the oxidation state of most of Earth’s mantle has remained stable over geological time, challenging previous assertions by other researchers about major transitions.