地球地幔中的矿物都只是名义上的无水矿物，它们的结构缺陷里包含的水含量(表示为H2O的质量分数)虽然都只是在ppm量级上，但是能够显著影响矿物(以至于岩石系统)的物理和化学性质。因此，地幔中的水在某种程度上决定着许多重大地质现象的出现和重大地质过程的发生。研究水与重大地质现象和过程之间的联系将成为今后发展地球科学理论的新生长点。

Minerals in the Earth’s mantle are nominally anhydrous. Although the water content in their structural defects is low with ppm level (H2O, wt.), it can greatly affect the physical and chemical properties of the mantle minerals and thus the rock systems. Water in the mantle is, therefore, tightly connected with many important geological events and processes. Exploring the relationship between mantle water and geological events and processes is expected to be a right point to develop basic theories in geosciences.