Constraints on Inner Core Composition from Seismic Anisotropy: the importance of light elements and Nickel

Constraints on Inner Core Composition from Seismic Anisotropy: the importance of light elements and Nickel | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 23 April 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Constraints on Inner Core Composition from Seismic Anisotropy: the importance of light elements and Nickel Authors : Jada Bollmeyer , Daniel Andrew Frost 0000-0001-7882-5166 [email protected] , and Prajna Paramita Das Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174543072.26137681/v1 Published Geophysical Research Letters Version of record Peer review timeline 170 views 136 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract The inner core is seismically anisotropic, with PKIKP waves traversing the inner core parallel to the rotation axis faster than those in the equatorial plane. This anisotropy increases with depth into the inner core and likely results from alignment of iron crystals deformed during inner core growth. Using previously calculated elastic properties of iron, we seek to determine the most likely iron-light element alloy (FeC, FeO, FeS, or FeSi). For each FeX alloy, we interpolate elastic tensors across the pressure and temperature range of the inner core and model the anisotropy resulting from flow during core growth. Lastly, we compare predicted PKIKP travel times with observations to determine the best fitting alloy. We find that iron-sulphur fits better than pure iron, but also that no light element alloy matches the observed anisotropy better than iron-nickel alloy. Future studies of core compositions must include nickel to explain seismic observations. Supplementary Material File (1031178_0_merged_1744983736.pdf) Download 1.55 MB File (innercorecomposition_bollmeyerfrost_vsub.docx) Download 1.38 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 23 April 2025 Peer review timeline Published Geophysical Research Letters Version of Record 6 Nov 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords anisotropy geodynamics inner core mineral physics seismology Authors Affiliations Jada Bollmeyer University of South Carolina View all articles by this author Daniel Andrew Frost 0000-0001-7882-5166 [email protected] University of South Carolina View all articles by this author Prajna Paramita Das University of California Berkeley View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 170 views 136 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Jada Bollmeyer, Daniel Andrew Frost, Prajna Paramita Das. Constraints on Inner Core Composition from Seismic Anisotropy: the importance of light elements and Nickel. Authorea . 23 April 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174543072.26137681/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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