Physics
Scientific paper
May 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004natur.429...58r&link_type=abstract
Nature, Volume 429, Issue 6987, pp. 58-61 (2004).
Physics
42
Scientific paper
Core formation on the Earth and Mars involved the physical separation of metal and silicate, most probably in deep magma oceans. Although core-formation models explain many aspects of mantle geochemistry, they have not accounted for the large differences observed between the compositions of the mantles of the Earth (~8wt% FeO) and Mars (~18wt% FeO) or the smaller mass fraction of the martian core. Here we explain these differences as a consequence of the solubility of oxygen in liquid iron-alloy increasing with increasing temperature. We assume that the Earth and Mars both accreted from oxidized chondritic material. In a terrestrial magma ocean, 1,200-2,000km deep, high temperatures resulted in the extraction of FeO from the silicate magma ocean owing to high solubility of oxygen in the metal. Lower temperatures of a martian magma ocean resulted in little or no extraction of FeO from the mantle, which thus remains FeO-rich. The FeO extracted from the Earth's magma ocean may have contributed to chemical heterogeneities in the lowermost mantle, a FeO-rich D'' layer and the light element budget of the core.
Frost Daniel J.
Gessmann Christine K.
Rubie David C.
No associations
LandOfFree
Partitioning of oxygen during core formation on the Earth and Mars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Partitioning of oxygen during core formation on the Earth and Mars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Partitioning of oxygen during core formation on the Earth and Mars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1552192