The influence of sulfur on the electrical resistivity of hcp iron: Implications for the core conductivity of Mars and Earth

Cosmochemical and geochemical studies suggest sulfur (S) as a light alloying element in the iron-rich cores of telluric planets, but there is no report of sulfur's alloying effect on the electrical and thermal transport properties of iron (Fe); a subject that is closely related to the dynamo action and thermal evolution of planetary cores. We measured the electrical resistivity of hexagonal-closed-packed (hcp) structured Fe alloy containing 3 wt.% silicon (Si) and 3 wt.% S up to 110 GPa at 300 K. Combined with the reported resistivities of hcp Fe and hcp Fe-Si alloy, we determined the impurity resistivity of S in a hcp Fe matrix at high pressures. The obtained impurity resistivity of S is found to be smaller than that of Si. Therefore, S is a weaker influence on the conductivity of Fe alloy, even if S is a major light element in the planetary cores.