Japanese study finds ‘missing element’ in the Earth’s core

SENDAI, MIYAG, JAPAN, 11TH 2017, LIMA CHARLIE NEWS WIRE

| A recent study released by researchers at the Tohoku University in Japan suggests that the “missing element” in the Earth’s core is in fact silicon.

After decades searching for the missing element the research staff believes that in addition to the established properties of iron and nickel in the Earth’s core, the third and so far undefined element is in fact silicon. “We believe that silicon is a major element – about 5% [of the Earth’s inner core] by weight could be silicon dissolved into the iron-nickel alloys,” said the group’s lead researcher, Professor Eiji Ohtani, of Tohoku University.

The innermost part of Earth is thought to be a solid ball mainly composed of iron, making up for an estimated 85% of its weight, and nickel which accounts for 10% of the core, and with a radius of about 1,200km (745 miles). The research from Tohoku University suggests that the majority of the remaining 5% is silicon.

Professor Ohtani said more work was needed to confirm the presence of silicon and that it did not rule out the presence of other elements during presentation of his research at the recent Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.

JOHN SJOHOLM, LIMA CHARLIE NEWS

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