CONSTRAINTS ON THE OXYGEN FUGACITY OF THE SUB-OCEANIC LITHOSPHERE

The oxidation state of the Earth’s mantle dictates the stability of different mineral phases, the nature of volatile species degassing through volcanism, electrical conductivity, diffusivity and mechanical behavior [1]. Additionally, changes in the redox history of the Earth’s mantle through time have implications for the development of the atmosphere and evolution of the biosphere [2]. It remains a question as to whether the oxygen fugacity (fO2) of the mantle is an intrinsic function of it