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Related Concept Videos

The Sulfur Cycle01:22

The Sulfur Cycle

Sulfur, an important element in the chemical makeup of proteins, is recycled through the atmosphere and aquatic and terrestrial environments. Found in the atmosphere as sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur is released by decaying organisms, weathered rocks, geothermal vents, volcanos, and burning fossil fuels. It is deposited into the ecosystem, cycled through the biotic community, and either released back into the atmosphere as gas or deposited in marine sediment for long-term storage and eventual...
Network Covalent Solids02:18

Network Covalent Solids

Network covalent solids contain a three-dimensional network of covalently bonded atoms as found in the crystal structures of nonmetals like diamond, graphite, silicon, and some covalent compounds, such as silicon dioxide (sand) and silicon carbide (carborundum, the abrasive on sandpaper). Many minerals have networks of covalent bonds.
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...
Semiconductors01:22

Semiconductors

There is variation in the electrical conductivity of materials - metals, semiconductors, and insulators that are showcased with the help of the energy band diagrams.
Metals such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), or lead (Pb) have low resistivity and feature conduction bands that are either not fully occupied or overlap with the valence band, making a bandgap non-existent. This allows electrons in the highest energy levels of the valence band to easily transition to the conduction band upon gaining...
Types of Semiconductors01:20

Types of Semiconductors

Intrinsic semiconductors are highly pure materials with no impurities. At absolute zero, these semiconductors behave as perfect insulators because all the valence electrons are bound, and the conduction band is empty, disallowing electrical conduction. The Fermi level is a concept used to describe the probability of occupancy of energy levels by electrons at thermal equilibrium. In intrinsic semiconductors, the Fermi level is positioned at the midpoint of the energy gap at absolute zero. When...
Metal-Semiconductor Junctions01:24

Metal-Semiconductor Junctions

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Schottky barriers arise when a metal with a work function (Φm) contacts a semiconductor with a different work function (Φs). Initially, electrons transfer until the Fermi levels of the metal and semiconductor align at equilibrium. For instance, if Φm > Φs, the semiconductor Fermi level is higher than the metal's before contact. The semiconductor's...
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Minerals

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Simulation of the Planetary Interior Differentiation Processes in the Laboratory
06:04

Simulation of the Planetary Interior Differentiation Processes in the Laboratory

Published on: November 16, 2013

Silicon in the Earth's core.

R Bastian Georg1, Alex N Halliday, Edwin A Schauble

  • 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK.

Nature
|June 29, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Planetary silicate rocks show distinct silicon isotope differences. These variations suggest silicon was incorporated into Earth's core before the Moon formed, challenging evaporation theories.

Area of Science:

  • * Planetary Science
  • * Geochemistry
  • * Cosmochemistry

Background:

  • * Isotopic variations in planetary silicate minerals may arise from core formation or evaporative losses during accretion.
  • * Iron isotope data from Earth and Moon basalts are heavier than those from Mars, Vesta, and chondrites, with evaporation during the Moon-forming giant impact being a proposed cause.
  • * Lighter, volatile elements like lithium and magnesium show no such isotopic differences, questioning the evaporation hypothesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To investigate the silicon isotopic composition of basaltic rocks from Earth and the Moon.
  • * To determine if silicon isotope variations can be explained by core formation processes.
  • * To assess the implications for the giant impact hypothesis and the composition of Earth's core.

Main Methods:

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Fabrication and Optimization of Type II Silicon Clathrate Films

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Simulation of the Planetary Interior Differentiation Processes in the Laboratory
06:04

Simulation of the Planetary Interior Differentiation Processes in the Laboratory

Published on: November 16, 2013

Metal-silicate Partitioning at High Pressure and Temperature: Experimental Methods and a Protocol to Suppress Highly Siderophile Element Inclusions
11:50

Metal-silicate Partitioning at High Pressure and Temperature: Experimental Methods and a Protocol to Suppress Highly Siderophile Element Inclusions

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06:53

Fabrication and Optimization of Type II Silicon Clathrate Films

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  • * Analysis of silicon isotopic compositions in basaltic rock samples from Earth and the Moon.
  • * Comparison of observed silicon isotope data with theoretical models of core formation and bonding stiffness.
  • * Evaluation of the giant impact hypothesis in light of new silicon isotope findings.

Main Results:

  • * Basaltic rocks from Earth and the Moon exhibit distinctly heavy silicon isotopic compositions.
  • * The observed silicon isotope effect aligns with theoretical predictions for silicon as a light element in Earth's core.
  • * The bulk silicate Earth and Moon share similar silicon isotopic compositions, supporting large-scale equilibration during the giant impact.

Conclusions:

  • * Silicon was likely incorporated as a light element into Earth's core prior to the Moon's formation.
  • * Core formation processes, rather than evaporation, are the probable cause of observed silicon isotope fractionations.
  • * The findings support the giant impact hypothesis and provide insights into the early differentiation of terrestrial planets.