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Geochemistry

How well can Pb isotopes date core formation?

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Abstract

Arising from: B. J. Wood & A. N. Halliday Nature 437, 1345–1348 (2005); Wood & Halliday reply

Timescale and the physics of planetary core formation are essential constraints for models of Earth's accretion and early differentiation. Wood and Halliday1 use the apparent mismatch in core-formation dates determined from tungsten (W) and lead (Pb) chrono-meters to argue for a two-stage core formation, involving an early phase of metal segregation followed by a protracted episode of sulphide melt addition. However, we show here that crust–;mantle Pb isotope systematics do not require diachronous core formation. Our observations indicate that very early (≤ 35 Myr) core formation and planet accretion remain the most plausible scenario.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, P31 6B5, Ontario, Canada

    Balz S. Kamber

  2. Department of Geology, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland

    Jan D. Kramers

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  1. Balz S. Kamber
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  2. Jan D. Kramers
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Correspondence to Balz S. Kamber.

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Kamber, B., Kramers, J. How well can Pb isotopes date core formation?. Nature 444, E1–E2 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05359

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