Introduction to the Thematic set: Carbon forms, paths and processes in the Earth

Abstract

Carbon forms: paths and processes in the Earth is a thematic set of six papers arising from the lectures presented at the Lake Como School, held at Villa del Grumello, Como, Italy (15–20 October 2017), and organized by the Graduate School of Milano Bicocca. This collection of lecture notes focusses on the structure of carbon allotropes, the geodynamics of deep Earth s carbon transport and fixation at mantle conditions, carbon degassing by ascending magmas, and the vast tectonic carbon degassing at the Earth s surface.\n\nNew science is emerging for carbon, one of the fundamental elements for life, energy, and global climate change on our planet. Carbon is cycled between surface, atmosphere, and oceans. Most of the recyclable carbon is stored deep in the Earth. Ingassing from the atmo-hydrosphere into the mantle occurs by subduction; in the mantle carbon resides in solids such as diamonds and is transported by fluids and melts that migrate upward. Outgassing into the atmosphere is effected by volcanism and tectono-metamorphic soil emissions. The forms and processes of carbon ingassing and outgassing are still poorly constrained. There is as yet no consensus on how and when carbon transforms from solid to fluid …