Earth's propitious state for life's blossom occurred at least 2.7 billion years ago, as suggested by ancient diamonds.
The Earth's volatile-rich environment, essential for life as we know it, has been a constant presence since the planet's formation, according to a groundbreaking study. This finding suggests that the conditions necessary for life have remained fairly consistent throughout Earth's history.
The study, which involved researchers from France and Canada, focused on the distribution of volatile elements within the Earth's interior. Unfortunately, the names of the specific researchers involved have not been disclosed.
The team analysed ancient diamonds, heating them to over 2000 degrees Celsius to transform them into graphite. This process released tiny quantities of gas for measurement, providing insights into the Earth's volatile composition billions of years ago.
The study of these ancient diamonds as a 'time capsule' has revealed that the volatile composition of the mantle, the part between the Earth's crust and core, has changed little over the last 2.7 billion years. This finding suggests that there has probably been little change in the proportion of volatiles generally over the last few billion years.
Volatiles, such as hydrogen, nitrogen, neon, and carbon-bearing species, are light chemical elements and compounds necessary for life, especially carbon and nitrogen. A planet rich in volatiles has a better chance of sustaining life.
Dr Suzette Timmerman from the University of Alberta, Canada, commented independently on the study, emphasising its importance in understanding the mantle and atmosphere in the first half of Earth's history.
The distribution of essential volatile elements between the mantle and the atmosphere has likely remained fairly stable throughout the majority of Earth's life. This is significant as it suggests that the basic chemical composition of the Earth's atmosphere suitable for life's diversity was laid down at least 2.7 billion years ago.
The diamonds used in the study may be much older than 2.7 billion years, indicating that the conditions necessary for life were set well before our 2.7 billion year threshold. The Wawa fibrous diamonds, over 2.7 billion years old, were used in the study and provide important clues into the volatile composition during the Neoarchean period.
The team measured the isotopes of Helium, Neon, and Argon in ancient diamonds and found that they were present in similar proportions to those found in the upper mantle today. This suggests that the upper mantle appears to have been degassed more than 2.7 billion years ago.
While Earth is volatile-rich, as is Venus, Mars and the Moon lost most of their volatiles into space. This finding underscores the importance of understanding the Earth's volatile composition and its stability over time.
The Goldschmidt Conference, the World's main geochemistry conference, will take place virtually from 4-9 July 2021 and in Hawaii in 2022. This conference will provide a platform for researchers to discuss and build upon the findings of this study, furthering our understanding of the Earth's history and the conditions necessary for life.
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