What geological process tends to recycle surface materials back into Earth's mantle?
Answer
subduction
The distribution of iron differs significantly between Mercury and Earth due to internal geological activity over eons. On Earth, the process known as subduction is crucial; it involves the recycling of surface materials, including crustal elements, back down into the mantle. This continuous process has a long-term effect of depleting the crust of some of its native iron content as the denser material is pulled deeper. Conversely, this action concentrates the densest material, like iron, within the planet's core, which is essential for reinforcing Earth's global magnetic field.
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