Composition of the core, I. Solubility of oxygen in molten iron at high temperatures

E. Ohtani; A. E. Ringwood

doi:10.1016/0012-821X(84)90054-2

Composition of the core, I. Solubility of oxygen in molten iron at high temperatures

E. Ohtani, A. E. Ringwood

SCI - Earth Science

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41 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Experiments on the solubility of FeO in molten iron have been carried out at temperatures between 2100 and 2550°C. The results show that liquid FeO is extensively soluble in molten iron at 2500°C and indicate that they probably become completely miscible above 2800°C. Liquid iron in equilibrium with crystalline magnesiowüstite (Mg_0.8Fe_0.2)O which is believed to be an important mineral in the lower mantle, would dissolve about 14 mol.% of FeO at 2500°C and 40 mol.% of FeO at 2800°C. The geochemical implications of these results are discussed. It is concluded that the outer core probably contains a large amount of dissolved FeO and that oxygen is probably the principal light element in the outer core.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	85-93
Number of pages	9
Journal	Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume	71
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(84)90054-2
Publication status	Published - 1984 Nov

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geophysics
Geochemistry and Petrology
Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1016/0012-821X(84)90054-2

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abstract = "Experiments on the solubility of FeO in molten iron have been carried out at temperatures between 2100 and 2550°C. The results show that liquid FeO is extensively soluble in molten iron at 2500°C and indicate that they probably become completely miscible above 2800°C. Liquid iron in equilibrium with crystalline magnesiow{\"u}stite (Mg0.8Fe0.2)O which is believed to be an important mineral in the lower mantle, would dissolve about 14 mol.% of FeO at 2500°C and 40 mol.% of FeO at 2800°C. The geochemical implications of these results are discussed. It is concluded that the outer core probably contains a large amount of dissolved FeO and that oxygen is probably the principal light element in the outer core.",

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AU - Ohtani, E.

AU - Ringwood, A. E.

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N2 - Experiments on the solubility of FeO in molten iron have been carried out at temperatures between 2100 and 2550°C. The results show that liquid FeO is extensively soluble in molten iron at 2500°C and indicate that they probably become completely miscible above 2800°C. Liquid iron in equilibrium with crystalline magnesiowüstite (Mg0.8Fe0.2)O which is believed to be an important mineral in the lower mantle, would dissolve about 14 mol.% of FeO at 2500°C and 40 mol.% of FeO at 2800°C. The geochemical implications of these results are discussed. It is concluded that the outer core probably contains a large amount of dissolved FeO and that oxygen is probably the principal light element in the outer core.

AB - Experiments on the solubility of FeO in molten iron have been carried out at temperatures between 2100 and 2550°C. The results show that liquid FeO is extensively soluble in molten iron at 2500°C and indicate that they probably become completely miscible above 2800°C. Liquid iron in equilibrium with crystalline magnesiowüstite (Mg0.8Fe0.2)O which is believed to be an important mineral in the lower mantle, would dissolve about 14 mol.% of FeO at 2500°C and 40 mol.% of FeO at 2800°C. The geochemical implications of these results are discussed. It is concluded that the outer core probably contains a large amount of dissolved FeO and that oxygen is probably the principal light element in the outer core.

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Composition of the core, I. Solubility of oxygen in molten iron at high temperatures

Abstract

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