CO2 emissions due to melt-carbonate interactions triggered the Miocene Climatic Optimum

CO2 emissions due to melt-carbonate interactions triggered the Miocene Climatic Optimum | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article CO 2 emissions due to melt-carbonate interactions triggered the Miocene Climatic Optimum Guibin Zhang, Shuaiqi Liu, Lifei Zhang, Alex Webb, Kohen Bauer, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5691581/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The Miocene Climatic Optimum (ca. 17−14 Ma) is an enigmatic climatic reversal that interrupted the long-term cooling trending of the Cenozoic. The forcing for this warming event remains unclear. Here we present direct evidence of melt−carbonate interactions in the Himalaya that produced globally significant CO2 emissions, and quantify resulting contributions to the atmosphere. The interactions occurred at high temperatures (685−828°C) in the lower crust (1.2−1.4 GPa) during the middle Miocene. Decoupled Sr−O isotope ratios suggest that calc-silicate zones were produced by infiltration of eclogite-derived granitic melts into carbonates during exhumation. Carbon budget estimates indicate that ~1270 kg of CO2 was liberated during the formation of each cubic meter of calc-silicates, and <4% of the carbon remained at the reaction site. Area extents of granite plutons vary from <10−1705 km2 in the Himalaya and each pluton contributed to carbon outfluxes of up to 1361× 103 kg/yr. As such, deep Earth degassing due to melt−carbonate interactions in the Himalayan orogen released 0.14−0.18 Pg/yr CO2 during the middle Miocene. With such degassing rates sustained over 0.1 Myr, corresponding atmospheric CO2 levels reached 400–600 ppmv within 0.1–0.3 Myr, ultimately enough to trigger the Miocene climate warming. Earth and environmental sciences/Solid Earth sciences/Petrology Earth and environmental sciences/Solid Earth sciences/Geochemistry Earth and environmental sciences/Climate sciences/Palaeoclimate Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files Supplementaryinformation1222.pdf Supplementary information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5691581","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":409522166,"identity":"f7c4a4a2-1093-4c96-a9b4-ecc1a06bdb8d","order_by":0,"name":"Guibin 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The forcing for this warming event remains unclear. Here we present direct evidence of melt−carbonate interactions in the Himalaya that produced globally significant CO2 emissions, and quantify resulting contributions to the atmosphere. The interactions occurred at high temperatures (685−828°C) in the lower crust (1.2−1.4 GPa) during the middle Miocene. Decoupled Sr−O isotope ratios suggest that calc-silicate zones were produced by infiltration of eclogite-derived granitic melts into carbonates during exhumation. Carbon budget estimates indicate that ~1270 kg of CO2 was liberated during the formation of each cubic meter of calc-silicates, and \u003c4% of the carbon remained at the reaction site. Area extents of granite plutons vary from \u003c10−1705 km2 in the Himalaya and each pluton contributed to carbon outfluxes of up to 1361× 103 kg/yr. As such, deep Earth degassing due to melt−carbonate interactions in the Himalayan orogen released 0.14−0.18 Pg/yr CO2 during the middle Miocene. 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