Important questions regarding the origin of the terrestrial planets and their building blocks are still open. Are primitive meteorites in our collections really the building blocks of Earth and other terrestrial planets? What processes are responsible for the depletion of volatile elements in the inner solar system? What is the origin and budget of volatile elements in the terrestrial planets? How much of the original volatile budget is lost during planetary growth? What can the Moon tell us about the early history of the Earth? Were the terrestrial planets affected by a “late heavy bombardment” of smaller bodies?

Chemical and isotopic studies of meteorites and lunar samples from the Apollo missions provide new constraints. This topic is closely related to research in TRR 170.

Contact: Prof. Harry Becker

Projects

- Origin of the depletion of siderophile volatile elements in Earth, Mars and the aubrite parent body. Z. Wang, H. Becker (2013-2015) CRC, FUB, DFG.

- Cr isotope variations in components of chondrites. Y. Kadlag, H. Becker, DFG-SPP 1385 (2014-2015).

- Highly siderophile elements in ancient lunar impact rocks. P. Gleissner, H. Becker (2013-2015) DFG.

- Highly siderophile element abundances in components of chondrites. Y. Kadlag, H. Becker, DFG-SPP 1385 (2012-2013).

- Constraints on late accretion from S-Se-Te abundances in the earth’s mantle. Z. Wang, H. Becker CSC (2010-2013).