Iron isotopic fractionation between silicate mantle and metallic core at high pressure

Jin Liu (), Nicolas Dauphas (), Mathieu Roskosz, Michael Y. Hu, Hong Yang, Wenli Bi, Jiyong Zhao, Esen E. Alp, Justin Y. Hu and Jung-Fu Lin ()
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Jin Liu: Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin
Nicolas Dauphas: Origins Laboratory, The University of Chicago
Mathieu Roskosz: IMPMC–UMR CNRS 7590, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, IRD, MNHN, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle
Michael Y. Hu: Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory
Hong Yang: Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR)
Wenli Bi: Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory
Jiyong Zhao: Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory
Esen E. Alp: Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory
Justin Y. Hu: Origins Laboratory, The University of Chicago
Jung-Fu Lin: Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract The +0.1‰ elevated 56Fe/54Fe ratio of terrestrial basalts relative to chondrites was proposed to be a fingerprint of core-mantle segregation. However, the extent of iron isotopic fractionation between molten metal and silicate under high pressure–temperature conditions is poorly known. Here we show that iron forms chemical bonds of similar strengths in basaltic glasses and iron-rich alloys, even at high pressure. From the measured mean force constants of iron bonds, we calculate an equilibrium iron isotope fractionation between silicate and iron under core formation conditions in Earth of ∼0–0.02‰, which is small relative to the +0.1‰ shift of terrestrial basalts. This result is unaffected by small amounts of nickel and candidate core-forming light elements, as the isotopic shifts associated with such alloying are small. This study suggests that the variability in iron isotopic composition in planetary objects cannot be due to core formation.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14377

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