Magma Deep Inside Earth Found to Store Large Oxygen Reservoir

· Science

Scientists have discovered that magma deep inside Earth can hold surprisingly large amounts of extra oxygen, pointing to a hidden reservoir that may have contributed to the planet's oxygen-rich atmosphere. The findings suggest that ancient volcanic eruptions could have helped transform Earth's atmosphere billions of years ago, releasing oxygen from the deep interior rather than only from biological processes at the surface. The work adds a geological dimension to understanding how the atmosphere reached its present composition, and carries implications for how oxygen cycles between the interior and the surface over long timescales.

Why it matters：If the deep interior is a major oxygen source, models of atmospheric evolution and of volcanic gas release need revising, affecting geochemistry, climate history and habitability research.

Key points

  • Deep magma can store extra oxygen beyond earlier estimates.
  • Ancient eruptions may have helped shape the oxygen-rich atmosphere.
  • The finding links the planet's interior to surface atmospheric chemistry.

Sources (original reporting)

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