Scientists Found Water Locked Deep Inside Earth's Mantle

Hundreds of kilometers beneath Earth's surface, scientists have found evidence that water can be stored inside solid minerals.

One important mineral is ringwoodite, which exists deep within Earth's mantle transition zone and can incorporate water into its crystal structure.

In 2014, researchers reported finding a tiny ringwoodite inclusion inside a diamond from Brazil, providing important evidence about water deep within Earth's interior.

If similar conditions exist throughout the mantle transition zone, the amount of water stored there could be enormous—potentially comparable to or greater than the amount contained in Earth's surface oceans.

The discovery raises a fascinating question: where did this deep water come from, and how does it relate to Earth's surface water and geological processes?

Scientists continue to investigate Earth's hidden water cycle.

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