Constraints on core composition from shock-wave data

Computer Science

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Chemical Composition, Earth Core, Earth Planetary Structure, Seismic Waves, Shock Waves, Abundance, Carbon, Constraints, Cosmochemistry, Iron Oxides, Oxygen, Planetary Evolution, Seismology, Silicon, Sulfur, Temperature Effects

Scientific paper

Shock wave data for Fe, C, iron sulfides, Fe2O3, Fe3O4 and FeO can be used to place constraints on the maximum abundances of the light elements Si, C, S, and O in the earth's core, yielding mass percentage ranges of from 14-20% for Si to 7-8% O. Recent high pressure equilibrium data indicate a marked decrease in Fe-O-S system oxygen solubility with pressure, making the solution of oxygen in the core appear unlikely. The hypothesis that S, at 8-12% by mass, is the light constituent of the earth's core is consistent with shock wave data for iron sulfides and implies that the earth accreted its entire cosmic component of S. Because of the low eutectic melting point in the Fe-FeS system at about 100 GPa and 2100 K, compared with 400 K for Fe at this pressure, the inclusion of S in the core provides a mechanism for producing a molten core early in the earth's history and retaining its volatile complement. The depletion of such major volatiles as K and Na remains unexplained.

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