Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made a significant discovery involving smectite, a clay mineral that originates from tectonic plate movements. This mineral demonstrates a remarkable capacity for carbon sequestration, potentially impacting the global climate over extensive periods. The research indicates that smectite has played a crucial role in initiating ice ages in the past and could be key in addressing future climate change challenges. Source: SciTechPost.com
Smectite, a clay with a distinctive accordion-like texture, has been found to be highly effective in trapping organic carbon, which could have implications for global climate change over the course of millions of years.
MIT geologists have uncovered that smectite, a sea-floor clay mineral, possesses an unexpected and potent ability to capture carbon over long timescales.
Under microscopic examination, smectite grains exhibit accordion-like folds, which are adept at capturing organic carbon.
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The Geological Origins of Carbon-Capturing Clays
The MIT research team has established that these carbon-capturing clays are a byproduct of plate tectonics. The process involves oceanic crust colliding with continental plates, bringing rocks to the surface which then weather into various minerals, including smectite. This clay eventually settles back in the ocean, capturing organic remnants in its microscopic folds and preventing their decomposition into carbon dioxide by microbes.
Over lengthy periods, smectite’s role in carbon sequestration can contribute to global cooling. The team’s analyses suggest that smectite formation followed several significant tectonic events over the past 500 million years. Each event led to substantial carbon capture by the clays, cooling the Earth and potentially triggering ice ages.
This study is the first to demonstrate how plate tectonics can lead to ice ages through the creation of carbon-trapping smectite.
MIT geologists have discovered that tectonic activities produce smectite, a clay that can capture a considerable amount of organic carbon within its microscopic structure over millions of years. Credit: Image by Anthony Priestas, Boston University
Present and Future Implications of Smectite
Currently found in tectonically active regions, smectite continues to sequester carbon, acting as a natural, albeit slow, counter to human-induced climate warming.
“These seemingly insignificant clay minerals have broad implications for planetary habitability,” notes Joshua Murray, a graduate student at MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. “There may even be practical uses for these clays in mitigating some of the carbon humans have emitted into the atmosphere.”
Murray and Oliver Jagoutz, a geology professor at MIT, presented their findings on November 30 in Nature Geoscience.
Connecting Tectonics and Climate Change
Following their earlier research, the team investigated the hypothesis that major ice ages were triggered by tectonic events in tropical areas. They focused on how tectonic collisions exposed ocean rocks known as ophiolites, which weather into various minerals, including clays, under tropical conditions.
“Our previous research didn’t specify which minerals resulted from this weathering and how they directly influenced global cooling,” explains Murray.
In their latest study, the team examined whether tectonic weathering in tropical regions could produce enough carbon-trapping minerals to initiate global ice ages.
Simulation Studies and Findings
The researchers analyzed geological literature, examining the weathering processes of major magmatic minerals and the types of clays they produce. They integrated these findings into a weathering simulation of rock types found in tectonic collisions.
“By studying the breakdown of these rocks in tropical environments and the resulting mineral formation, we gain insights into their impact,” says Jagoutz.
Further simulations incorporating these minerals into Earth’s carbon cycle models revealed smectite’s significant role in trapping organic carbon.
Tracing Historical Presence of Smectite
To confirm smectite’s role in past ice ages, the team examined ancient sediments for elements like nickel and chromium, indicative of smectite presence. Their analysis of oceanic sedimentary rocks from the last 500 million years showed spikes in these elements around each major ice age, suggesting smectite’s involvement.
The team estimates that smectite’s role in preserving organic carbon, though seemingly minor, was substantial over millions of years, influencing the onset of major ice ages.
“These findings highlight the significant, long-term effects of smectite in Earth’s climate history,” adds Jagoutz.
“Smectite’s role in cooling the Earth before human impact is notable, though it’s a gradual process,” Murray remarks.
Lee Kump, a geosciences professor at Penn State University not involved in the study, commends the research for emphasizing the importance of considering all aspects of the global carbon cycle in understanding climate dynamics.
Potential Applications and Future Research
The team is exploring the possibility of using smectite to mitigate carbon emissions, such as in permafrost regions threatened by warming
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about smectite clay
What is the key finding of the MIT research on smectite clay?
MIT researchers discovered that smectite, a clay mineral formed from plate tectonics, is highly effective in trapping organic carbon. This process potentially influences the global climate over millennia and may have played a role in triggering past ice ages.
How does smectite clay influence the global climate?
Smectite clay traps organic carbon in its microscopic folds, preventing it from being released as carbon dioxide. Over millions of years, this sequestration of carbon can lead to global cooling, potentially contributing to the onset of ice ages.
What is the relationship between smectite clay and plate tectonics?
Smectite clay is a byproduct of plate tectonics. When oceanic crust collides with continental plates, it brings rocks to the surface that weather into minerals, including smectite. This clay then settles in the ocean, trapping carbon.
Can smectite clay be used to mitigate current climate change?
While smectite clay acts as a natural buffer against climate change, its impact is slow-acting. Researchers are exploring its potential applications in carbon sequestration, such as in permafrost regions, to mitigate human-induced climate warming.
More about smectite clay
- MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
- Nature Geoscience Journal
- SciTechPost Article on MIT Study
- National Science Foundation Research Funding
4 comments
wow, never knew clay could be so important for the environment! got to appreciate these small things in nature.
kind of skeptical tbh, how can a tiny bit of clay really influence global climate? seems a bit overstretched maybe.
Really interesting stuff MIT’s doing there, wonder how much of an impact this smectite can actually have on our climate over the long term…
This is a game changer if its true. But are there any real-world applications yet, or is it all just theory for now?