Tracing the formation and differentiation of the Earth by non-traditional stable isotopes
Abstract
The Earth has grown from chaotically mixed small dusts and gases to its present highly differentiated layered structure over the past 4.567 billion years. This differentiation has led to the formation of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, crust, mantle, and core. The timing and mechanism for the formation and evolution of these different layers are still subjects of intense debate. This review brings together recent advances in using non-traditional stable isotopes to constrain major events and processes leading to the formation and differentiation of the Earth, including the Moon-forming giant impact, crust-mantle interactions, evolution of life, the rise of atmospheric oxygen, extreme paleoclimate changes, and cooling rate of magmas.