Mysteries of the ancient mantle, and the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Host: Noah Baker

Welcome back to the Nature Podcast. This week: explosive eruptions from the deep Earth.

Host: Benjamin Thompson

And revisiting a science-fiction classic, 40 years on. I’m Benjamin Thompson.

Host: Noah Baker

And I’m Noah Baker.

[Jingle]

Host: Benjamin Thompson

First up on this week’s show, we’ll be learning about the ground underneath our feet, a long way underneath our feet. The Earth’s mantle is sandwiched between the planet’s outer core and the thin crust we walk about on. Although the mantle makes up a huge 84% of the Earth’s volume, this enigmatic zone is difficult to study. But thanks to an unusual type of explosive eruption bringing deep rock samples to the surface, we can get important clues as to its composition. Jon Woodhead from the University of Melbourne in Australia has been studying new and old samples of these rocks known as kimberlites. Geoff Marsh got him on the phone to uncover their secrets.

Interviewee: Jon Woodhead

So, kimberlites are very…

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