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Noble gases in the terrestrial planets

Nature volume 293, pages 535–539 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

Abundances of primordial noble gases are lower for Mars than for Earth, but are higher for Venus. The data for Venus are attributed to implantation of solar wind in small preplanetary particles. Results for Mars are explained by escape of gas from planetesimals with radius between 5 and 100 km which form within the first 107 yr of the Solar System. Volatile loss is associated with melting caused by short-lived radioisotopes such as 26Al.

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  1. Center for Earth and Planetary Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA

    Michael B. McElroy & Michael J. Prather

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  1. Michael B. McElroy
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McElroy, M., Prather, M. Noble gases in the terrestrial planets. Nature 293, 535–539 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/293535a0

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