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Earth’s evolving geodynamic regime recorded by titanium isotopes

Author

Listed:
  • Zhengbin Deng

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Martin Schiller

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Matthew G. Jackson

    (University of California, Santa Barbara)

  • Marc-Alban Millet

    (Cardiff University)

  • Lu Pan

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Katrine Nikolajsen

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Nikitha S. Saji

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Dongyang Huang

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Martin Bizzarro

    (University of Copenhagen
    Université Paris Cité)

Abstract

Earth’s mantle has a two-layered structure, with the upper and lower mantle domains separated by a seismic discontinuity at about 660 km (refs. 1,2). The extent of mass transfer between these mantle domains throughout Earth’s history is, however, poorly understood. Continental crust extraction results in Ti-stable isotopic fractionation, producing isotopically light melting residues3–7. Mantle recycling of these components can impart Ti isotope variability that is trackable in deep time. We report ultrahigh-precision 49Ti/47Ti ratios for chondrites, ancient terrestrial mantle-derived lavas ranging from 3.8 to 2.0 billion years ago (Ga) and modern ocean island basalts (OIBs). Our new Ti bulk silicate Earth (BSE) estimate based on chondrites is 0.052 ± 0.006‰ heavier than the modern upper mantle sampled by normal mid-ocean ridge basalts (N-MORBs). The 49Ti/47Ti ratio of Earth’s upper mantle was chondritic before 3.5 Ga and evolved to a N-MORB-like composition between approximately 3.5 and 2.7 Ga, establishing that more continental crust was extracted during this epoch. The +0.052 ± 0.006‰ offset between BSE and N-MORBs requires that

Suggested Citation

  • Zhengbin Deng & Martin Schiller & Matthew G. Jackson & Marc-Alban Millet & Lu Pan & Katrine Nikolajsen & Nikitha S. Saji & Dongyang Huang & Martin Bizzarro, 2023. "Earth’s evolving geodynamic regime recorded by titanium isotopes," Nature, Nature, vol. 621(7977), pages 100-104, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:621:y:2023:i:7977:d:10.1038_s41586-023-06304-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06304-0
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