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Hf–W–Th evidence for rapid growth of Mars and its status as a planetary embryo

Author

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  • N. Dauphas

    (Origins Laboratory, The University of Chicago, 5734 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA)

  • A. Pourmand

    (Origins Laboratory, The University of Chicago, 5734 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
    Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149, USA)

Abstract

The making of Mars Nicolas Dauphas and Ali Pourmand use precise hafnium–tungsten–thorium isotopic data to show that Mars accreted very rapidly and reached about half of its present size in two million years or less. This is consistent with it being a stranded planetary embryo that has not subsequently collided and merged with others, and may explain why the mass of Mars is much smaller than that of Venus and Earth. The results also show that Mars grew before dissipation of the nebular gas, when ∼100-km planetesimals, such as the parent bodies of chondrites, were still being formed.

Suggested Citation

  • N. Dauphas & A. Pourmand, 2011. "Hf–W–Th evidence for rapid growth of Mars and its status as a planetary embryo," Nature, Nature, vol. 473(7348), pages 489-492, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:473:y:2011:i:7348:d:10.1038_nature10077
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10077
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