Open AccessON THE NATURE OF THE EARTH'S CORE
Author(s) -
Ramsey W.H.
Publication year - 1949
Publication title -
geophysical journal international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0956-540X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1949.tb02956.x
Subject(s) - core (optical fiber) , inner core , jump , earth (classical element) , outer core , phase (matter) , core–mantle boundary , geology , alloy , geophysics , materials science , physics , metallurgy , mantle (geology) , composite material , quantum mechanics , mathematical physics
Summary In a previous paper ( M. N. , 108 , 406, 1948) the author has suggested that the density jump at the boundary of the Earth's core is duc to a phase transition under pressure, and not to the appearance of a new material such as iron. A metallic type of structure was proposed for the material in the core. In the present paper the transition to the metallic phase is explained in greater detail. Seismological data are used to prove that the core cannot be composed of either iron or an alloy of nickel and iron. It is shown how the theory removes certain difficulties arising from the hypothesis of an iron core, and how it can account for features not hitherto explained.