I have seen three different model of the collision that created the moon, and they are very nice, but I have a specific question about the two core masses involved.
If we use the theory that a geo-reactor drives the convection currents in the mantel, then it becomes interesting to know how active this reactor is at various times during extinction events. I have not seen a model that shows how quickly the heavy core material from the second Mars sized body moved into the core of the Earth. If large predictable fragments merged at critical periods followed by basaltic flows that resulted in extinction events then their is a another source for periodic extinctions.
So if anybody has seen a fine model with interior detail over geological time let me know, I am curious to see it.
[ November 26, 2006, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: General Sax ]
Posted by JimmyCooper (Member # 7434) on :
I have no idea if this helps or not. But, my geology teacher showed us a couple slides from a supercomputer simulation of a Mars sized impact. It's on the 1st Powerpoint link for ch 1. The specific slides are 25-27. link Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
I assure you, my computer is a natural when it comes to glamour shoots!
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
unhelpful link Posted by General Sax (Member # 9694) on :
Unhelpful but interesting...
I have seen those supercomputer sims before, I think on the Discovery Channel but they do not run them through geological time. It looks as if the core materiel from the smaller body got smeared out into a thick layer in the outer core. Since the Earth was really whirling at that point it might have taken a long time for the stuff to settle, and if the deposites were large enough they might account for some more of the helium that bubbles up by creating smaller geo reactors. I wonder what kind of time frame it took for the uranium to settle...
[ November 26, 2006, 10:59 AM: Message edited by: General Sax ]