Oxidation state of Cu in silicate melts at upper mantle conditions

Abstract Beyond its economic value, copper (Cu) serves as a valuable tracer of deep magmatic processes due to its close relationship with magmatic sulfide evolution and sensitivity to oxygen fugacity (fO2). However, determining Cu’s oxidation state (+ 1 or + 2) in silicate melts, crucial for interpr...

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Main Authors: Xingcheng Liu, Lei Zhang, Sanyuan Zhu, Li Li, Xiaolin Xiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56538-9
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author Xingcheng Liu
Lei Zhang
Sanyuan Zhu
Li Li
Xiaolin Xiong
author_facet Xingcheng Liu
Lei Zhang
Sanyuan Zhu
Li Li
Xiaolin Xiong
author_sort Xingcheng Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Beyond its economic value, copper (Cu) serves as a valuable tracer of deep magmatic processes due to its close relationship with magmatic sulfide evolution and sensitivity to oxygen fugacity (fO2). However, determining Cu’s oxidation state (+ 1 or + 2) in silicate melts, crucial for interpreting its behavior and reconstructing fO2 in the Earth’s interior, has long been a challenge. This study utilizes X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure spectroscopy to investigate the Cu oxidation state in hydrous mafic silicate melts equilibrated under diverse fO2 (− 1.8 to 3.1 log units relative to the Fayalite–Magnetite–Quartz buffer), temperature (1150–1300 °C), and pressure (1.0–2.5 GPa) conditions. Our results reveal that Cu predominantly exists as Cu+ across all fO2 conditions, with a minor Cu2+ component. This dominance of Cu+ persists even in relatively oxidized melts, highlighting its limited sensitivity to fO2 under upper mantle conditions. This significantly constrains the utility of Cu as an oxybarometer in hydrous silicate melts in the deep Earth. However, our findings suggest that Cu isotopes primarily reflect the interplay of sulfide segregation/accumulation during magmatic differentiation, shedding light on these fundamental processes in Earth’s interior.
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spelling doaj.art-1e0d33f0b5ad467ba9e12069d23938752024-03-10T12:13:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-011411910.1038/s41598-024-56538-9Oxidation state of Cu in silicate melts at upper mantle conditionsXingcheng Liu0Lei Zhang1Sanyuan Zhu2Li Li3Xiaolin Xiong4State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Beyond its economic value, copper (Cu) serves as a valuable tracer of deep magmatic processes due to its close relationship with magmatic sulfide evolution and sensitivity to oxygen fugacity (fO2). However, determining Cu’s oxidation state (+ 1 or + 2) in silicate melts, crucial for interpreting its behavior and reconstructing fO2 in the Earth’s interior, has long been a challenge. This study utilizes X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure spectroscopy to investigate the Cu oxidation state in hydrous mafic silicate melts equilibrated under diverse fO2 (− 1.8 to 3.1 log units relative to the Fayalite–Magnetite–Quartz buffer), temperature (1150–1300 °C), and pressure (1.0–2.5 GPa) conditions. Our results reveal that Cu predominantly exists as Cu+ across all fO2 conditions, with a minor Cu2+ component. This dominance of Cu+ persists even in relatively oxidized melts, highlighting its limited sensitivity to fO2 under upper mantle conditions. This significantly constrains the utility of Cu as an oxybarometer in hydrous silicate melts in the deep Earth. However, our findings suggest that Cu isotopes primarily reflect the interplay of sulfide segregation/accumulation during magmatic differentiation, shedding light on these fundamental processes in Earth’s interior.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56538-9
spellingShingle Xingcheng Liu
Lei Zhang
Sanyuan Zhu
Li Li
Xiaolin Xiong
Oxidation state of Cu in silicate melts at upper mantle conditions
Scientific Reports
title Oxidation state of Cu in silicate melts at upper mantle conditions
title_full Oxidation state of Cu in silicate melts at upper mantle conditions
title_fullStr Oxidation state of Cu in silicate melts at upper mantle conditions
title_full_unstemmed Oxidation state of Cu in silicate melts at upper mantle conditions
title_short Oxidation state of Cu in silicate melts at upper mantle conditions
title_sort oxidation state of cu in silicate melts at upper mantle conditions
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56538-9
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AT lili oxidationstateofcuinsilicatemeltsatuppermantleconditions
AT xiaolinxiong oxidationstateofcuinsilicatemeltsatuppermantleconditions