Time of proto-Earth reservoir formation and volatile element depletion from 53Mn-53Cr chronometry

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Paper Summary

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Early Earth Went on a Diet: Lost Its Lighter Stuff Faster Than You Can Say "Protoplanetary Disk"

By using Mn-Cr isotope ratios as a chronometer, this study suggests that the proto-Earth lost a significant portion of its volatile elements (like hydrogen and oxygen) within 3 million years of the Solar System's formation. This depletion likely occurred due to evaporation and high temperatures in the early solar system and suggests the Earth formed largely from volatile-depleted materials. The study also proposes that Theia, the Mars-sized object that collided with Earth to form the Moon, likely formed farther out in the Solar System and may have contributed volatiles to Earth.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Weaknesses

Model Dependence

The models rely on several assumptions about the early Solar System and the composition of Theia, which have inherent uncertainties.

Indirect Evidence

While the study uses isotopic data, directly observing the volatile depletion processes in the early Solar System is impossible. The findings rely on interpreting traces left behind billions of years later.

Simplified Model of Mn-Cr Fractionation

Using single-stage model ages, the study assumes instantaneous Mn/Cr fractionation. This simplification may not fully reflect the complexity of these processes in a dynamic protoplanetary disk.

Rating Explanation

This study presents a well-reasoned model and uses isotopic data to constrain the timing of early volatile depletion in the proto-Earth. While the model-dependent nature of the study introduces some uncertainty, the findings offer valuable insights into the dynamics of the early Solar System and planetary formation. The limitations regarding model dependence and indirect evidence prevent a rating of 5.

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