Altered chemistry of oxygen and iron under deep Earth conditions

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08071-3
• Publication Date: 2019-01-08T14:13:14Z
• Authors: Jin Liu; Qingyang Hu; Wenli Bi; Liuxiang Yang; Yuming Xiao; Paul Chow; Yue Meng; Vitali B. Prakapenka; Ho-Kwang Mao; Wendy L. Mao
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; 13. Climate action; Science; Q; Article

A drastically altered chemistry was recently discovered in the Fe-O-H system under deep Earth conditions, involving formation of iron superoxide (FeO2Hx with x = 0 to 1), but puzzling crystal this at high pressures is largely unknown. Here we present evidence that despite O/Fe ratio FeO2Hx, remains ferrous, spin-paired and non-magnetic state 60-133 GPa, while presence hydrogen has minimal effects on valence iron. The reduced accompanied by oxidized oxygen due oxygen-oxygen interactions. not -2 as all other major mantle minerals, instead it varies around -1. This result indicates like iron, may have multiple states our planet's interior. Our study suggests a possible change chemical paradigm how oxygen, behave conditions.