Effects of Planetesimal-Scale Evaporation on Pb Isotopic Evolution and
Timing of the Last U/Pb Fractionation
Abstract
The excess of radiogenic lead (Pb) isotopes in the silicate Earth, which
is referred to as “the first terrestrial Pb paradox” has remained a
confusion for a long time. A large-scale U/Pb fractionation with an
increase of μ value (238U/204Pb)
compared with CI chondrite is proposed to be the main culprit. The
volatile e.g., Pb diffuses into space from the planetesimal-scale
collisional melting, which plays a critical role in Pb loss on the
accreting proto-Earth. The N-body simulation describes the collisional
history of terrestrial planets in the first 200 million years of the
Solar System. The collisional information provides the degree of
silicate melting and further obtains the volatile loss fraction. Within
the early 20% accretion of proto-Earth, the cumulative fraction of Pb
loss can reach 80%-90%. Meanwhile, the μ value could rise to 1.5-4
setting the initial value to be 0.2-0.6. Besides, the silicate melting
with higher temperature and lower oxygen fugacity (relatively reduced
condition) can bring about more Pb loss. Further increase of μ to 9.26
possibly caused by a late large-scale U/Pb fractionation can effectively
explain the excess of radiogenic Pb isotopes in the bulk silicate Earth.
The two-stage model with the planetesimal-scale evaporation predicts a
young age of 240 million years of the last large-scale fractionation
event. The last fractionation is more consistent with the “Hadean
matte” event than a late Moon-forming giant impact.