Metal–silicate partitioning of U: Implications for the heat budget of the core and evidence for reduced U in the mantle

Abstract

Earth’s core might require an internal heat source, such as radioactive decay, to explain the presence of the magnetic field through geologic time. To investigate whether U would be an important heat source in the core, we performed metal–silicate partitioning experiments of U at P–T (up to 67GPa and 5400K) conditions more relevant to a magma ocean scenario than has previously been reported. This study finds the partitioning of U to be strongly dependent on ƒO2, temperature, the S content of the metal and the SiO2 content of the silicate during core-mantle differentiation. Differentiation at mean conditions of 42–58GPa and 3900–4200K would put 1.4–3.5ppb U (2–8wt%S) in the core, amounting to a maximum of 1.4 (+1/−0.7) TW of heat 4.5billion years ago. This is likely not enough heat to mitigate early widespread mantle melting. It was also found that U likely exists in the 2+ oxidation state in silicate melts in the deep Earth, a state which has not been previously observed in nature.