All articles tagged with #giant impact
Scientists have found the first direct evidence of the proto-Earth, the original Earth before the Moon-forming impact, by analyzing ancient rocks and meteorites for potassium-40 isotopic signatures. These findings suggest that some ancient Earth materials have survived billions of years, providing new insights into Earth's early composition and the materials that formed it.
A new study suggests that remnants of the Mars-size rock, Theia, which collided with Earth and helped create the moon, may be buried near Earth's core. Computer simulations indicate that dense relics of Theia's mantle could have sunk and solidified in Earth's lower mantle, forming continent-size blobs that are more iron-rich than Earth's normal mantle rock. These blobs could have influenced geological activity unique to Earth, such as plate tectonics and subduction. Traces of these relics could potentially make their way to the surface through mantle plumes. The findings provide insight into Earth's geological evolution and its distinct characteristics compared to other rocky planets.
A recent study suggests that a massive anomaly deep within Earth's mantle may be a remnant of the collision that formed the moon around 4.5 billion years ago. Using computational fluid dynamics methods, researchers discovered that the early Earth exhibited mantle stratification after the impact, with the upper mantle featuring a magma ocean created through the mixing of material from Earth and the proto-planet Theia, while the lower mantle remained solid and retained the composition of Earth. This finding challenges the traditional notion that the giant impact led to the homogenization of the early Earth and provides insights into Earth's internal structure and long-term evolution. The study also sheds light on the formation of the inner solar system and has implications for understanding the heterogeneity of Earth's mantle and the origins of Large Low Velocity Provinces (LLVPs).
A new study suggests that the Moon-forming impactor that collided with Earth may have caused the basal mantle anomalies observed today. The research proposes that the impact generated a dense magma ocean at the base of the mantle, leading to the formation of continent-sized anomalous zones with low seismic velocity. These anomalies could explain the presence of volatile-depleted regions and the segregation of subducted oceanic crust in the lower mantle. The study highlights the importance of the Moon-forming impact in shaping Earth's mantle composition and provides insights into the early differentiation and volatile accretion processes during the planet's formation.
Mysterious blobs deep within Earth's mantle, known as large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs), may be remnants of a Mars-sized planet called Theia that collided with Earth billions of years ago, leading to the formation of the moon, according to a new study. Computer simulations suggest that during the collision, a portion of Theia's rock sank into Earth's mantle and gradually formed the LLVPs near the core. Further research and the analysis of moon rocks could provide more evidence to support this theory.