Giant structures in the Earth’s core may have created conditions for the origin of life
Scientists from Rutgers University published a study in the magazine Nature Geoscience that proposes an explanation for two enormous structures located 2,900 kilometers deep, on the border between the Earth’s mantle and core. The formations, known as LLSVP, lie beneath the African continent and the Pacífico ocean. The research indicates that small leaks of material from the core prevented the uniform solidification of the early mantle.
These structures have a density and temperature higher than the surrounding average. Ondas seismic waves cross the region at reduced speed, a characteristic observed since the 1980s. The work led by Yoshinori Miyazaki uses computer simulations to recreate the planet’s conditions more than 4 billion years ago.
Silicon and magnesium leak changed everything
The previous model predicted homogeneous layers after the cooling of the global magma ocean. The reality shows large-scale heterogeneous regions. The team identified that migration of silicon and magnesium from the core to the lower mantle created zones that did not completely crystallize.
- The amount leaked was small, less than 1% of the total volume
- Elements prevented the formation of dense minerals in specific areas
- Process occurred in the first 100 million years of Terra
- The result was the two current blocks with up to 100 times more volume than the entire Earth’s crust
Balanced cooling generated lasting volcanism
The presence of these structures influenced the planet’s internal heat flow. Regiões warmer rose slowly over billions of years. Esse movement sustained intense volcanic activity on the surface.
The associated degassing released water vapor and gases that formed the secondary atmosphere. The maintenance of the plate tectonic cycle also depended on this internal dynamics. Ambos processes are considered essential for long-term climate stability.
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Comparison with Vênus and Marte reinforces hypothesis
Venus has a very dense atmosphere of CO₂ and a surface temperature of 460°C. Marte has lost almost all of its atmosphere and has volcanism that has been extinct for billions of years. Terra maintains an active magnetic field and continuous crustal recycling.
Deep structures maintain geological activity
African and Pacific blocs function as thermal anchors. Eles generate mantle plumes that rise to the surface. Exemplos include hot spots from Havaí and Islândia.
Next steps depend on new seismic data
The hypothesis still needs validation with future missions. Projetos like InSight in Marte already demonstrate the feasibility of deep sensing. Melhorias in the global network of seismometers may also yield additional evidence in the coming years.
The study reinforces that processes that occurred in the first million years defined the habitable destiny of the planet. Cada new simulation closes the gap on how Terra became unique in Sistema Solar.
