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Drill into Earth’s Mantle
Context:
Scientists have drilled the deepest hole ever into Earth’s mantle, reaching 4,160 feet (1,268 meters) below the Atlantic seabed. They have also collected a significant sample that provides insights into the planet’s largest layer.
More on the news:
- The sample reveals details about the upper mantle’s composition and the chemical reactions between this rock and seawater at various temperatures, which may have played a role in the origins of life on Earth billions of years ago.
- On the seafloor, there are several locations where the mantle is exposed. One such area is the Atlantis Massif, an underwater mountain situated near a volcanically active region of the mid-Atlantic Ridge.
