Ferric iron stabilization at deep magma ocean conditions.

Abstract

Fe₂O₃ produced in a deep magma ocean in equilibrium with core-destined alloy sets the early redox budget and atmospheric composition of terrestrial planets. Previous experiments (≤28 gigapascals) and first-principles calculations indicate that a deep terrestrial magma ocean produces appreciable Fe³⁺ but predict Fe³⁺/ΣFe ratios that conflict by an order of magnitude. We present Fe³⁺/ΣFe of glasses quenched from melts equilibrated with Fe alloy at 38 to 71 gigapascals, 3600 to 4400 kelvin, analyzed by synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy. These indicate Fe³⁺/ΣFe of 0.056 to 0.112 in a terrestrial magma ocean with mean alloy-silicate equilibration pressures of 28 to 53 gigapascals, producing sufficient Fe₂O₃ to account for the modern bulk silicate Earth redox budget and surficial conditions near or more oxidizing than the iron-wüstite buffer, which would stabilize a primitive CO- and H₂O-rich atmosphere.