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Chemical geodynamics

The enduring lead paradox

The Earth's known rock reservoirs contain more radiogenic lead than expected on average. Mantle-derived rocks with highly unradiogenic lead — as discovered in the Horoman massif — may bear witness to a previously unsampled, complementary reservoir.

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Figure 1: Lead isotope systematics of the Earth.

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Hofmann, A. The enduring lead paradox. Nature Geosci 1, 812–813 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo372

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