Tiny 3-D images from Stanford and SLAC shed light on origin of Earth's core

Stanford University ^ | December 16, 2010 | LOUIS BERGERON

[decimon]

A new method of capturing detailed, three-dimensional images of minute samples of material under extreme pressures is shedding light on the evolution of the Earth's interior. Early results suggest that the early Earth did not have to be entirely molten to separate into the rocky crust and iron-rich core it has today. Researchers at Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory are leading the group pioneering the technique, which could lead to a wide range of new experiments.

To answer the big questions, it often helps to look at the smallest details. That is the approach Stanford mineral physicist Wendy Mao is taking to understanding a major event in Earth's inner history. Using a new technique to scrutinize how minute amounts of iron and silicate minerals interact at ultra-high pressures and temperatures, she is gaining insight into the biggest transformation Earth has ever undergone – the separation of its rocky mantle from its iron-rich core approximately 4.5 billion years ago.

The technique, called high-pressure nanoscale X-ray computed tomography, is being developed at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. With it, Mao is getting unprecedented detail – in three-dimensional images – of changes in the texture and shape of molten iron and solid silicate minerals as they respond to the same intense pressures and temperatures found deep in the Earth.

Mao will present the results of the first few experiments with the technique at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco on Thursday, Dec. 16.

Tomography refers to the process that creates a three-dimensional image by combining a series of two-dimensional images, or cross-sections, through an object. A computer program interpolates between the images to flesh out a recreation of the object.

[decimon]

Core values ping.

[ml/nj]

Using a new technique to scrutinize how minute amounts of iron and silicate minerals interact at ultra-high pressures and temperatures, she is gaining insight into the biggest transformation Earth has ever undergone – the separation of its rocky mantle from its iron-rich core approximately 4.5 billion years ago.

I hope she explains where these high pressures come from or why high pressure is the least bit relevant.

ML/NJ

[crusty old prospector]

Yes, yes but what about the Mohorovicic discontinuity?

[DallasDeb]

Looks like magic—i.e., how iron can be created out of silicate.

[NonValueAdded]

Mao? What ever happened to good old American names like Cathcart, Peckham, and Dreedle? /obscure

[Hoplite]

There, there. There, there.

[PIF]

Wendy Mao

[neverdem]

thanks decimon

[ReignOfError]

Back in the day, America’s scientific breakthroughs came from scientists with all-American names. like Oppenheimer, Fermi, Szilard, Bohr and Alvarez. :P

(I had to Google to get the reference ... I suppose Yossarian would have been to easy.)

[Captain Beyond]

bflr

[PIF]

Trying this again (got 404rd):
Wendy Mao

[decimon]

You got the hots for this woman?

[PIF]

You got the hots for this woman?

---

No - just the My Comments page showed the image as a 404 from the server so I posted the image from another source... maybe will inspire some kid to take up the sciences? :)

[SunkenCiv]

• First measurement of magnetic field in Earth's core

Thanks decimon. Both of these topics from you could almost be an X-Planets topic, for that matter.

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