<p>The Martian core mainly contains iron, nickel and some light elements. However, controversies remain about the structure and chemical composition of the Martian core due to a lack of samples and marsquake data. Recently, the InSight lander collected long-term marsquake data, which improved the Martian interior structure model. Based on the preliminary analysis of marsquake data, Mars has a molten liquid core with a radius of around 1700&#xa0;km. As the Martian core has a smaller density and lower temperature than pure iron at corresponding pressure and temperature conditions, some light elements are introduced to reduce the density and liquidus temperature. With various methods for seismic analysis, in-situ high-pressure and high-temperature experiments, and first-principal calculations, the Martian core composition and evolution models have been updated in the past few years. Here, we review those studies on the light elements in the Martian core from four aspects including (1) high-temperature and high-pressure experiments, (2) marsquake data, (3) mineral physics model with molecular dynamics simulations and (4) cosmochemistry investigation. We discussed the effect of different light elements on the Martian core’s density, sound velocity and liquidus temperature. Moreover, the review examines the varieties, abundances and forms of light elements in the Martian core.</p>

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Light elements in the Martian core

  • Yinfang Yang,
  • Shuangmeng Zhai

摘要

The Martian core mainly contains iron, nickel and some light elements. However, controversies remain about the structure and chemical composition of the Martian core due to a lack of samples and marsquake data. Recently, the InSight lander collected long-term marsquake data, which improved the Martian interior structure model. Based on the preliminary analysis of marsquake data, Mars has a molten liquid core with a radius of around 1700 km. As the Martian core has a smaller density and lower temperature than pure iron at corresponding pressure and temperature conditions, some light elements are introduced to reduce the density and liquidus temperature. With various methods for seismic analysis, in-situ high-pressure and high-temperature experiments, and first-principal calculations, the Martian core composition and evolution models have been updated in the past few years. Here, we review those studies on the light elements in the Martian core from four aspects including (1) high-temperature and high-pressure experiments, (2) marsquake data, (3) mineral physics model with molecular dynamics simulations and (4) cosmochemistry investigation. We discussed the effect of different light elements on the Martian core’s density, sound velocity and liquidus temperature. Moreover, the review examines the varieties, abundances and forms of light elements in the Martian core.