Compositional Diversity of Rocky Exoplanets

2021/08/18 by Putirka, Keith, Dorn, Caroline, Hinkel, Natalie +1 · 1 citation
#Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Geophysics (physics.geo-ph) #Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2108.08383

Abstract

Star compositions are essential for examining densities and compositional ranges of rocky exoplanets, testing their similarity to Earth. Stellar elemental abundances and planetary orbital data show that of the ~5000 known minerals, exoplanetary silicate mantles will contain mostly olivine, orthopyroxene, and clinopyroxene, ± quartz, and magnesiuwustite at the extremes; wholly exotic mineralogies are likely absent. Understanding these exotic geological systems requires a better marriage of geological insights to astronomical data. The study of exoplanets is like a mirror, reflecting our incomplete understanding of Earth and neighboring planets; new geological/planetary experiments, informed by exoplanet studies, are needed for effectual progress.

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