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Shock Compression of Iron Sulphide and the Possible Sulphur Content of the Earth's Core

Abstract

A light component in the Earth's outer core could account for its apparent lower density and higher seismic parameter than pure iron1. On the basis of shock data for iron and iron–nickel, Birch2 and McQueen and Marsh3 concluded that the outer core was less dense than pure iron by 10 and 8 weight %, respectively. To account for these discrepancies both sulphur and silicon have been proposed as alloying elements with iron in the outer core.

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KING, D., AHRENS, T. Shock Compression of Iron Sulphide and the Possible Sulphur Content of the Earth's Core. Nature Physical Science 243, 82–84 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci243082a0

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