Nickel isotopic evidence for late-stage accretion of Mercury-like differentiated planetary embryos

Shui-Jiong Wang (), Wenzhong Wang, Jian-Ming Zhu, Zhongqing Wu, Jingao Liu, Guilin Han, Fang-Zhen Teng, Shichun Huang, Hongjie Wu, Yujian Wang, Guangliang Wu and Weihan Li
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Shui-Jiong Wang: China University of Geosciences
Wenzhong Wang: University of Science and Technology of China
Jian-Ming Zhu: China University of Geosciences
Zhongqing Wu: University of Science and Technology of China
Jingao Liu: China University of Geosciences
Guilin Han: China University of Geosciences
Fang-Zhen Teng: University of Washington
Shichun Huang: University of Nevada
Hongjie Wu: China University of Geosciences
Yujian Wang: China University of Geosciences
Guangliang Wu: China University of Geosciences
Weihan Li: China University of Geosciences

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Earth’s habitability is closely tied to its late-stage accretion, during which impactors delivered the majority of life-essential volatiles. However, the nature of these final building blocks remains poorly constrained. Nickel (Ni) can be a useful tracer in characterizing this accretion as most Ni in the bulk silicate Earth (BSE) comes from the late-stage impactors. Here, we apply Ni stable isotope analysis to a large number of meteorites and terrestrial rocks, and find that the BSE has a lighter Ni isotopic composition compared to chondrites. Using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory, we show that core-mantle differentiation cannot produce the observed light Ni isotopic composition of the BSE. Rather, the sub-chondritic Ni isotopic signature was established during Earth’s late-stage accretion, probably through the Moon-forming giant impact. We propose that a highly reduced sulfide-rich, Mercury-like body, whose mantle is characterized by light Ni isotopic composition, collided with and merged into the proto-Earth during the Moon-forming giant impact, producing the sub-chondritic Ni isotopic signature of the BSE, while delivering sulfur and probably other volatiles to the Earth.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20525-1

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