Deep within Earth's mantle, scientists have found evidence of vast quantities of water locked in minerals. This hidden reservoir may exceed the volume of all surface oceans combined.
Water in Rocks
The water isn't liquid but bound within the crystal structure of minerals like ringwoodite. At the extreme pressures and temperatures of the mantle, rock can hold significant amounts of water within its molecular structure.
Implications
This deep water cycle influences volcanism, plate tectonics, and possibly Earth's long-term climate. It may explain how our planet maintained surface water over billions of years while other rocky worlds lost theirs.
The discovery came from analyzing how seismic waves travel through Earth's interior, combined with laboratory experiments replicating mantle conditions.
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