Earth and Mars were formed by the same elements, which largely originated in the inner solar system. Only a small percentage of the building blocks of these two planets originated beyond the orbit of Jupiter, according to research by the University of Münster, Germany, published in the scientific journal Science Advances.
The results challenge our understanding of the process that formed Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The classic concept of the formation of rocky planets is that huge objects called “planetary embryos” regularly collided in the inner solar system to form them.
In contrast, the newer theory postulates that the four planets mentioned grew up accumulating millimeter dust pebbles coming from the outer solar system towards the Sun.
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To evaluate the two models, the scientists analyzed 22 grams of material from 17 meteorites that came from Mars to Earth and presented the most comprehensive comparison to date of the isotopic composition of the two planets, as well as the primitive building material of the inner solar system and external. Some of these materials are still found today largely unaltered in meteorites.
The study showed that Earth and Mars are mainly composed of materials found in the inner solar system, with only a small percentage of the two planets’ building blocks coming from outside Jupiter’s orbit — which “pulled” most of the fragments onto itself. which tended towards the Sun under the force of its gravity.
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Isotopes of the rare metals titanium, zirconium and molybdenum found in tiny remnants of the silicate-rich outer layers of Earth and Mars provide crucial clues to the research’s conclusion.
The outer rock layers of the planets have little in common with the carbonaceous chondrites of the outer solar system and represent only about 4% of the original building blocks of both planets.
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