Wed. May 25, 2016 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM 304 (3F)

Convener:*Hirochika Sumino(Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo), Takeshi Hanyu(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Department of Solid Earth Geochemistry), Yuji Sano(Division of Ocean and Earth Systems, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo), Colin Jackson(Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington), Chair:Hirochika Sumino(Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo), Takeshi Hanyu(Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Department of Solid Earth Geochemistry)

Volatiles influence dynamics and chemical differentiation in the mantle and crust by drastically changing mineral stability and rheological behavior. Fractionation processes such as partial melting, hydration, and dehydration are all controlled by volatiles in the rocks. A significant portion of the volatiles in the Earth has been thought to be present in the atmosphere and oceans as a consequence of extensive degassing during accretion and subsequent mantle degassing. On the other hand, it has been recently recognized that significant amounts of volatiles are recycled back into the mantle at subduction zones, where intensive devolatilization of subducted materials during arc magma generation was once thought to act as an effective "subduction barrier". However, fundamental questions still remain, such as: how are volatiles species distributed throughout the early and present day Earth? What are the mechanisms for, and rate at which, volatiles are fluxed between the atmosphere, crust, shallow, and deep mantle? And what role have volatiles played in driving the evolution of the Earth? The possible role of the core in storing primordial volatiles is also poorly constrained.
We therefore welcome contributions from experimental, observational, and modeling studies that help shed light on the deep cycles of volatiles, such as hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, noble gases, halogens and sulfur. We particularly encourage studies linking the behavior of multiple volatile elements or their isotopes. Studies investigating the linkage between volatile and solid geochemical tracers, the phase equilibria of volatile-bearing mantle assemblages, and the effect of volatiles on the physical properties of the mantle are also welcome.