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GEOREF RECORD
Compositional diversity of rocky exoplanets
Keith D. Putirka, Caroline Dorn, Natalie R. Hinkel and Cayman T. Unterborn
Compositional diversity of rocky exoplanets (in Geoscience beyond the solar system, John Eiler (editor), Richard Harrison (editor), Becky Lange (editor) and Jodi Rosso (editor))
Elements (August 2021) 17 (4): 235-240
Compositional diversity of rocky exoplanets (in Geoscience beyond the solar system, John Eiler (editor), Richard Harrison (editor), Becky Lange (editor) and Jodi Rosso (editor))
Elements (August 2021) 17 (4): 235-240
Index Terms/Descriptors
- alkaline earth metals
- chain silicates
- clinopyroxene
- extrasolar planets
- ferropericlase
- framework silicates
- interplanetary comparison
- iron
- magnesium
- mantle
- Mars
- Mercury Planet
- metals
- Moon
- nesosilicates
- olivine
- olivine group
- orthopyroxene
- orthosilicates
- oxides
- planetary interiors
- planets
- pyroxene group
- quartz
- silica minerals
- silicates
- silicon
- stars
- terrestrial planets
- Urey ratio
Abstract
To test whether exoplanets are similar to Earth, knowledge of their host star composition is essential. Stellar elemental abundances and planetary orbital data show that of the approximately 5,000 known minerals, exoplanetary silicate mantles contain mostly olivine, orthopyroxene, and clinopyroxene, + or -quartz and magnesiowustite at the extremes, while wholly exotic mineralogies are unlikely. Understanding the geology of exoplanets requires a better marriage of geological insights to astronomical data. The study of exoplanets is like a mirror: it reflects our incomplete understanding of Earth and neighboring planets. New geological/planetary experiments, informed by exoplanet studies, are needed for effective progress.
ISSN: 1811-5209
Serial Title: Elements
Serial Volume: 17
Serial Issue: 4
Title: Compositional diversity of rocky exoplanets
Title: Geoscience beyond the solar system
Author(s): Putirka, Keith D.Dorn, CarolineHinkel, Natalie R.Unterborn, Cayman T.
Author(s): Eiler, Johneditor
Author(s): Harrison, Richardeditor
Author(s): Lange, Beckyeditor
Author(s): Rosso, Jodieditor
Affiliation: California State University, Fresno, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences,
Fresno, CA,
United States
Pages: 235-240
Published: 20210801
Text Language: English
Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America and Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland and Mineralogical Association of Canada and Geochemical Society and Clay Minerals Society,
International
References: 30
Accession Number: 2021-076053
Categories: Extraterrestrial geology
Document Type: Serial
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Illustration Description: illus.
Secondary Affiliation: University of Zuerich,
CHE,
SwitzerlandSouthwest Research Institute,
USA,
United States
Country of Publication: International
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2021, American Geosciences Institute. Abstract, copyright, Mineralogical Society of America. Reference includes data from GeoScienceWorld, Alexandria, VA, United States
Update Code: 202152
