EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR) -- Poirier 1994

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Poirier 1994

Poirier, J.P. (1994). Light-Elements in the Earths Outer Core - a Critical-Review. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 85(3-4): 319-337.

There is little doubt that densities for the Earth's outer core, inferred from seismology, require that it is constituted of an alloy of liquid iron and light elements. However, the nature of the light alloying elements is still uncertain as it depends in a large measure on the conditions of accretion of the Earth and formation of the core. The arguments brought forward for or against silicon, oxygen, sulphur, hydrogen and carbon are critically reviewed. There is no reason to consider that only one element is present in the outer core. Experimentally determined and/or calculated ternary and quaternary phase diagrams are needed to provide constraints on the nature of the light elements.

Keywords
system fe-feo, high-pressure, mantle boundary, terrestrial planets, static compression, phase-relations, iron hydride, liquid-iron, molten iron, temperatures

Journal
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors
http://www.elsevier.com/locate/pepi

Publisher
Elsevier Science
P.O. Box 211
1000 AE Amsterdam
The Netherlands
(+31) 20 485 3757
(+31) 20 485 3432
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