Constraining the structure and composition of the Moon-forming impactor and the proto-Earth

Constraining the structure and composition of the Moon-forming impactor and the proto-Earth | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Constraining the structure and composition of the Moon-forming impactor and the proto-Earth Zhensheng Wang, Zixian Shi, Renguang Zuo, Razvan Caracas, Shijie Li This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6320792/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The Moon-forming giant impact, involving a collision between the proto-Earth and a planetary body known as Theia, presents considerable challenges, particularly regarding Theia's and proto-Earth’s characteristics. By integrating impact numerical modelling with data from meteorites, we can bring further constraints on their mantle composition and Theia's core mass fraction (CMF). Our findings indicate that Theia's CMF is below 35%. Moreover, Theia’s mantle is composed of differentiated materials similar to Aubrites, whereas the proto-Earth’s mantle exhibits a composition akin to that of the presented-day Earth. After the impact, parts of Theia's mantle were incorporated into the proto-Earth, while the proto-Earth’s composition remained largely unaltered. Other portions of Theia either participated in the formation of the Moon or escaped the Earth-Moon system. Our research provides a quantitative constraint on Theia and proto-Earth and demonstrates their similarities, mitigating the isotope crisis in the Earth-Moon system and offering a pathway to probe Theia's mantle material. Earth and environmental sciences/Solid Earth sciences/Geochemistry Earth and environmental sciences/Planetary science/Geochemistry Earth and environmental sciences/Planetary science/Geodynamics Earth and environmental sciences/Planetary science/Early solar system Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files NCmanuscriptSupplementarysub.docx Supplementary information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6320792","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":438486600,"identity":"bffc8c6e-6dd8-4bb3-a4ec-d36dbeddeb92","order_by":0,"name":"Zhensheng 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