What’s the origin or Iron?

Question

I read in some magazine that the element iron was not present in the earths crust when the earth was first formed. The element came from meteorites crashing onto the earth. Is there any logic behind these assumptions, what are the argument for and against this?

Answer 1

The other answers are quite right. Iron is one of the most abundant elements on the Earth but most of it, along with the heavier elements, gravitated towards the core while the planet was still in its molten state. This has left the crust relatively iron poor, but would still account for the iron deposits seen at surface today.

Incidentally, iron is the end product of the fusion process within stars. Once a star is producing large amounts of iron, there is nothing left to burn. With a massive star, this leads to a supernova, during which the heavier elements are synthesised.

It would be interesting to know where this article can be found. Will you cite the reference please?

Answer 2

Don't believe what you read in magazines ( or in yahoo answers for that matter! ).
Iron is one of the most common elements in the universe and meteorites are made of pretty much the same stuff as the earth so the article is wrong on both key points.

Answer 3

The article was wrong. Much of the Earths core is made of iron, it is one of the most abundant elements on Earth.

Do meteorites have noticibly more % iron than Earth?

Answer 4

The element Iron is formed in the chemical factories we call Stars.

Answer 5

Not true at all. Most iron is formed as a final result of fusion. 2 Hydrogens form 1 Helium molecule. Once all of the Hydrogen is fused, Helium fuses to make Carbon. Once all the Helium has fused, Carbon fuses to make iron, the last product of fusion.

Answer 6

Last time I checked the earths mantle is iron, Barneys book of Earth is not an ideal starter.