Another look at the core density deficit of Earth's outer core

A constraint adopted in several geochemical studies of core composition is that the core density deficit (cdd) is 10%, with the implication that this number is based on robust geophysical evidence. The cdd is the perceived difference between the density of pure iron at core conditions and the seismically-determined density of the outer core. The importance of the cdd is that it limits the concentration of allowable light elements, such as sulfur and silicon, which, when mixed with Fe, or an Fe-Ni alloy, comprise the geochemical model of the inner core. We present evidence that the value of 10% for the cdd of the outer core is too high. Using a thermal-pressure equation-of-state, we find that for assumed melting temperatures of pure iron at the inner-outer core (ICB) pressure of 330 GPa ranging from 7500 to 4800 K, the cdd ranges from 2.9 to 7%, respectively. Reports that the cdd value of the outer core is less than 10% are found in a number of shock-wave studies, but the values reported here are apparently the lowest. Our cdd value for an assumed melting temperature of 6000 K for iron at 330 GPa is 5.4% and is compatible with proposed concentrations of Si and S impurities found from solubility studies at high P and T. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.