EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Sanloup et al. 2002
Sanloup, C., Guyot, F., Gillet, P. and Fei, Y. (2002). Physical properties of liquid Fe alloys at high pressure and their bearings on the nature of metallic planetary cores. Journal of Geophysical Research 107: doi: 10.1029/2001JB000808. issn: 0148-0227.

Sulfur and silicon are among the expected alloying light elements in planetary liquid iron cores. Structural properties of Fe-27 wt % S and Fe-17 wt % Si liquid alloys at high pressure and high temperature (0--5 GPa/1400--2300 K) are measured by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Sulfur strongly modifies the local structure of liquid iron whereas silicon has only small structural effects. Fe-27 wt % S melts are indeed poorly ordered which explains a higher compressibility compared to pure liquid Fe. These results point out the necessity to consider the strong effect of S on liquid Fe properties while modeling planetary interiors. They imply a low S content in the Earth's outer core, leaving Si as a strong candidate, and argue for a present-day Martian solid core when combined with previous global chemical models.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Geochemistry, Composition of the core, Mineral Physics, High-pressure behavior, Mineral Physics, X ray, neutron, and electron spectroscopy and diffraction, Planetology, Solar System Objects, Jovian satellites, Planetology, Solar System Objects, Mars
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit