Tanzania 2018 CO2 fluxes, carbon and noble gas isotopes

Abstract: Continental rifts are important sources of mantle CO2 to Earth’s atmosphere. Deep carbon is stored for long periods in the lithospheric mantle, and thus rift CO2 flux depends on lithospheric processes that control melt and volatile transport. Here, we propose that displacement of carbon-enriched Tanzania cratonic mantle concentrates deep carbon below parts of the East African Rift System. The data set contains CO2 flux data from Natron, Mantra and Balangida Basins, Tanzania and noble gas and C isotope data from springs in the region.

Other Description: Muirhead, J.D., Fischer, T.P., Oliva, S., Laizer, A, van Wijk, J., Currie, C.A., Lee. H, Judd, E.J., Kazimoto, E., Sano, Y. Takahata. N., Tiberi, C., Foley, S. F., Dufek, J., Reiss, M.C., Ebinger, C.J. (2020) Displacement of cratonic mantle and lithospheric channeling concentrates deep carbon during continental rifting. Nature