A model of Earth's deep interior based on mineralogical data

We describe here a model of formation of the core and the early history of Earth based on recent experimental mineralogical data. In a nebular setting , where differentiated planetesimals with their iron cores were plentiful, hot condensing solids mixed with the planetesimal irons and formed the soli d proto-core (Fe-Ni-S-C). FeO from unmixing in magnesiowustite and from a d issociation of perovskite in the newly accreted mantle concentrated at the core-mantle interface and reacted with the nascent core. The interface grew to form the liquid core (Fe-Ni-O-S-C) at the expense of the solid proto-co re and the formation of much of the outer core was complete within the firs t 500 million years. The model is consistent with geochemical data and has important implications for the dynamics of the inner core.