Magnitude of stable iron isotope fractionation limited by multiple stages of terrestrial core formation
Abstract
One proposed mechanism for generating iron isotopic differences between planetary mantles and chondrites is metal-silicate equilibration during terrestrial core formation. Prior studies of this isotopic fractionation effect employ single-stage core formation models that are inconsistent with reproducing the siderophile element budget of the Earth's mantle. Here, we model iron isotopic evolution of the Earth's mantle in a multistage core formation scenario that is consistent with dynamic models of planet formation and reproduces the geochemistry of the bulk silicate Earth, specifically the refractory moderately siderophile elements. We find that multiple stages of core formation rebalance the fractionating effect of metal-silicate equilibration for the iron isotopic system, comparable to or smaller than typical analytical uncertainties in mantle rocks. Ultimately, this rebalancing effect - coupled with stochastic accretion and differentiation histories which further complicate planetary formation processes - makes it unlikely that isotopic fractionation during metal-silicate equilibration is the primary mechanism responsible for the iron isotopic composition of the Earth's mantle.
Versions
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BibTeX
@misc{nathan2026magnitude,
title = {{Magnitude of stable iron isotope fractionation limited by multiple stages of terrestrial core formation}},
author = {Gabriel Nathan and Seth A. Jacobson},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2608.28936},
eprint = {2608.28936},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.28936},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Magnitude of stable iron isotope fractionation limited by multiple stages of terrestrial core formation
AU - Gabriel Nathan
AU - Seth A. Jacobson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/28
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2608.28936
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.28936
AB - One proposed mechanism for generating iron isotopic differences between planetary mantles and chondrites is metal-silicate equilibration during terrestrial core formation. Prior studies of this isotopic fractionation effect employ single-stage core formation models that are inconsistent with reproducing the siderophile element budget of the Earth's mantle. Here, we model iron isotopic evolution of the Earth's mantle in a multistage core formation scenario that is consistent with dynamic models of planet formation and reproduces the geochemistry of the bulk silicate Earth, specifically the refractory moderately siderophile elements. We find that multiple stages of core formation rebalance the fractionating effect of metal-silicate equilibration for the iron isotopic system, comparable to or smaller than typical analytical uncertainties in mantle rocks. Ultimately, this rebalancing effect - coupled with stochastic accretion and differentiation histories which further complicate planetary formation processes - makes it unlikely that isotopic fractionation during metal-silicate equilibration is the primary mechanism responsible for the iron isotopic composition of the Earth's mantle.
ER -