What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the elemental composition of Earth's outer core based on the chondritic Earth model, high-pressure equations of state, and geomagnetic constraints.

December 1, 1958Geophysical Journal InternationalOpen Access

On the Chemical Composition of the Outer Core

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Authors

GMGordon J. F. MacDonaldRoyal Berkshire Hospital LKL. KnopoffCalifornia Institute of Technology

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Implication

Geophysical modeling reveals an iron-silicon alloy composition in the outer core, suggesting alignment with mantle mineralogy and geomagnetic dynamo requirements.

Key Points

To evaluate the elemental composition of Earth's outer core based on the chondritic Earth model, high-pressure equations of state, and geomagnetic constraints.
Applied mass-balance calculations linking mantle mineral compositions (eclogite shell overlying dunite) to core composition under the chondritic meteorite abundance model.
Calculated the representative atomic number (Ẑ) for high-pressure compounds using asymptotic relations from the Thomas-Fermi-Dirac model and Bullen's outer core density distribution.
Estimated the electrical conductivity of candidate iron-nickel-silicon core alloys relative to pure iron under core conditions.
A mantle model with a 400 km eclogite shell over dunite requires an outer core composition of approximately (Fe, Ni)1.6Si.
Bullen's density distribution yields a representative atomic number (Ẑ) of about 22 for the outer core, consistent with the calculated value of 22.8 for Fe1.6Si.
The electrical conductivity of (Fe, Ni)1.6Si under core conditions is estimated at one-third to one-tenth that of pure iron, satisfying the requirements of dynamo theory for generating Earth's magnetic field.

Cite This Study

MacDonald et al. (1958) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8b92391692ae2bc0f46427 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246x.1958.tb05338.x

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Implication

Geophysical modeling reveals an iron-silicon alloy composition in the outer core, suggesting alignment with mantle mineralogy and geomagnetic dynamo requirements.

On the Chemical Composition of the Outer Core

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Implication

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Cite This Study

On the Chemical Composition of the Outer Core

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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