ULTRADEEP FLUID SYSTEMS OF THE EARTH AND PROBLEMS OF ORE FORMATION

Abstract

A fundamentally new model is proposed for the generation of heat and ultradeep fluids in the Earth's liquid core. Considering the rheological properties of the liquid core (viscosity from 103-105 to 107-109 poises), pressure and temperature gradients, and relative rotation velocities of liquid layers with different viscosities, it is concluded that heat is generated at the expense of internal and external friction. That is, a mechanism is proposed for the transformation of the gravitational energy of the Sun into heat in the rotating liquid core of the Earth. Heat generation leads to explosions and is accompanied by plume development in the steady-state regime and superplume outbursts upon the loss of stability. The separating gas plumes possess high potential energies (Pfl > 1300 kbar and T> 4000°C) and burn through the mantle, reaching the upper lithospheric layers where they cause melting and the formation of ore-magmatic systems. The ascending plumes and superplumes are inherently enriched in C and S, which results in the formation of carbonatite magmas and sulfide accumulations in the upper mantle. Thermal activation of asthenospheric layers at the base of continental plates results in concurrent processes related to plumes and fluid systems of the asthenosphere, with various degrees of maturity and various ore and geochemical characteristics.