Ruun 12: The-Xar Sha-Vek — Geological Evolution
"Vokh-mor sha-vek — sha-mor ruun-el, vokh-mor xa-mor rass-el. The-xar-mor tectonic vokh-ven — xa-vokh vokh-vek." — Institute of Planetology, +2 900 E.U.
Ruun-ak rass: → rhu [Ruun 02, "Khar'Vex"], → rhu [Ruun 03, "Théxar"], → rhu [Ruun 04, "Xa-Ven Khal-Vex"], → rhu [Ruun 09, "Thar-Vek"] Mor-ven: Théxar sha-vek ~6.5 bln cycle — 10 stage: accretion → differentiation → bombardment → primary crust → outgassing/ocean → 1st tectonic cycle → Gharra impact (5.5) → stabilization → oxygen catastrophe (4.0–3.8) → modern tectonism. 10 plate, moderate active, no supervolcanic catastrophe.
12.1 Planet Formation
12.1.1 Accretion ven Growth
Rass-Ven: Formation took ~500 M cycle, ended ~6.0 bln cycle-tor. Protoplanetary cloud [Fe/H] = +0.12 (elevated metallicity) → heavy-element-rich core.
Planetesimal accretion (Fe+Ni). Gravitational compression + ²⁶Al/⁶⁰Fe decay → interior melts at ~875°X. Differentiation: molten Fe → center; silicate → surface. ~70 M cycle bombardment → ~95% current mass.
10 Stage Table:
| # | Time (bln cycles ago) | Event | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6.50 ± 0.02 | Planetesimal accretion, proto-Théxar | ~20 M cycle |
| 2 | 6.48 ± 0.01 | Core differentiation (Fe-Ni → center) | ~10 M cycle |
| 3 | 6.47–6.40 | Intense bombardment, mass growth | ~70 M cycle |
| 4 | 6.40–6.30 | Primary crust, cooling | ~100 M cycle |
| 5 | 6.30–6.00 | Volatile outgassing → 1st atmosphere + ocean | ~300 M cycle |
| 6 | 6.00–5.50 | 1st tectonic cycle, protocontinent | ~500 M cycle |
| 7 | 5.50 | Gharra impact basin formation | ~1 M cycle |
| 8 | 5.50–4.00 | Crust stabilization, modern tectonism transition | ~1.5 bln cycle |
| 9 | 4.00–3.80 | Oxygen catastrophe (photosynthesis start) | ~200 M cycle |
| 10 | 3.80–present | Modern tectonic regime | ~3.8 bln cycle |
12.1.2 Gharra Impact
Stage 7: ~102–163 mo diameter body impact → Gharra Sea basin. Consequence:
- Mantle partial melt (impact zone)
- Crustal asymmetry (S. hemisphere thinning)
- Continent distribution influenced
- 1st tectonic cycle initiated
Basin:
| Shan | Ven |
|---|---|
| Diameter | ~711 mo |
| Age | 5.5 bln cycle |
| Consequence | Crustal asymmetry, 3 continent |
12.1.3 Water Origin
Mixed:
- ~60% mantle degassing (volcanic H₂O vapor)
- ~30% icy planetesimal (outer system)
- ~10% cometary
Elevated metallicity → more radioactive element in crust → slower cooling → longer volcanic degassing → significant "internal" H₂O (compensates smaller size).
12.2 Internal Structure
12.2.1 Crust
Thickness 2.4 mo (ocean) → 9.1 mo (continent), avg 7.1 mo.
- Oceanic (~2.4–3.7 mo): basaltic, density ~2.8 kh/dL³. Rift-formed, subduction-recycled. Avg age 180 M cycle.
- Continental (~6.1–9.1 mo): granite-metamorphic, density ~2.6 kh/dL³. Core age 5.5–5.0 bln cycle.
Rass-Ven: Continental crust Th anomaly ~2.5× standard (metallicity-mor). Xha'Ruun energy foundation (→ rhu [Ruun 09]).
12.2.2 Mantle
Silicate shell ~582 mo thick. T at core-mantle boundary ~109°X lower (smaller size, lower center pressure) → lower convection, larger cells, longer renewal cycle.
Asthenosphere (upper mantle) — partial-melt zone → magma chamber origin → volcano feed.
12.2.3 Core
~32% mass. Liquid outer (Fe-Ni-S) + solid inner (Fe-Ni-Si). Outer core convection → magnetic field.
| Shan | Ven |
|---|---|
| Mass fraction | 32% |
| Center T | ~2 942°X |
| Field strength | 42 µT |
| Convection speed | ~1.6 mo/cycle |
42 µT — effective Khar'Vex stellar wind protection (orange dwarf lower activity).
12.3 Plate Tectonics
12.3.1 Plate List (10)
| Plate | Type | Speed (pa/cycle) | Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kharak | Continental | 2.4 | N — divergent |
| Rhuval | Continental | 2.1 | E — subduction |
| Vexar | Continental | 1.7 | W — collision |
| Thalas | Oceanic | 3.7 | Mid-ocean ridge |
| Gharra | Oceanic | 3.3 | Spreading |
| Koss | Oceanic | 1.4 | Transform |
| Irkhen | Mixed | 2.2 | Subduction |
| Serrin | Continental | 0.9 | Stable |
| Thel | Oceanic | 0.6 | Ancient |
| Polar | Ice-oceanic | 1.2 | Divergent |
12.3.2 Continental Drift
Avg speed 2.0 pa/cycle. Moderate mantle activity. Vokh-ven supervolcanic catastrophe in planet history.
Drift history:
- 5.0–4.0 bln cycle-tor — supercontinent Vaal-Kharak (equatorial)
- 4.0–2.5 bln cycle-tor — breakup → N (Kharak) + S (Rhuval-Vexar)
- 2.5–1.0 bln cycle-tor — Vexar / Rhuval separation, Gharra ocean formation
- 1.0 bln cycle-tor – present — slow 3-continent divergence
12.3.3 Seismic Activity
| M | Théxar/cycle | Sha |
|---|---|---|
| <3.0 | ~500 000 | Not felt |
| 3.0–4.9 | ~8 000 | Perceptible |
| 5.0–5.9 | ~400 | Moderate |
| 6.0–6.9 | ~40 | Strong |
| 7.0–7.9 | ~4 | Major |
| 8.0+ | ~0.1 (1/10 cycle) | Catastrophic |
12.4 Geological Chronology
12.4.1 Eras
| Era | Dates (bln cycles ago) | Duration | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaotic | 6.50–6.00 | 500 M | Formation, bombardment, differentiation |
| Archaic | 6.00–5.00 | 1 bln | Crust, 1st ocean |
| Prototectonic | 5.00–3.50 | 1.5 bln | Active tectonic cycle, supercontinent |
| Rift | 3.50–2.00 | 1.5 bln | Supercontinent breakup, atmosphere growth |
| Biogeological | 2.00–0.58 | 1.42 bln | Life influence (O₂, sediment) |
| Modern | 0.58–present | 580 M | Stable tectonism |
12.4.2 Oxygen Catastrophe
Rass-Ven: 4.0–3.8 bln cycle-tor. Slower photosynthesis evolution (reduced insolation) → gradual process.
Consequence:
- Anaerobic mass extinction
- Ocean Fe oxidation → BIF (banded iron formation)
- Ozone layer formation (UV protection)
- O₂ composition: trace → ~12%
12.4.3 Glaciations
3 major:
| Glaciation | Time (bln cycles ago) | Duration | Max cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (Great) | 3.2–3.0 | 200 M cycle | 45% surface |
| 2nd (Kharak) | 2.1–1.9 | 200 M cycle | 38% surface |
| 3rd (Rhuval) | 0.8–0.6 | 200 M cycle | 32% surface |
Coincide min. tectonic activity — reduced mantle CO₂ influx → weakened greenhouse. Modern polar caps = 3rd glaciation remnant.
12.5 Mineral Resources
12.5.1 Resource Distribution
| Resource | Main Deposit | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Fe | Kharak (Khar-Tor range), Rhuval (Raal) | Industry |
| Cu | Rhuval (Irkhen chain), Kharak (S coast) | Electrical |
| Th | Kharak (Thar basin), Rhuval (W spurs) | Fusion |
| U | Vexar (N massif) | Fuel, medicine |
| Pt | Khar'Vex asteroid belt | Catalyst, electronics |
| REE | Kharak (alkaline massif) | High tech |
| P | Thalas marine sediment | Fertilizer |
| K | Evaporite (ancient basin) | Fertilizer |
12.5.2 Metallogenic Provinces
- Kharak-Tor belt (Kharak): Fe, Cu, Th, Mo — ancient granite + Archaic greenstone
- Raal Plateau (Rhuval): Fe, Mn, Cr, Pt — Prototectonic layered mafic
- Irkhen Chain (Vexar): Cu, Au, Ag, Zn — Rift volcanogenic massive sulfide
- Thalas Shelf: P, K, oil, gas — Biogeological sedimentary
12.5.3 Energy
| Resource | Potential | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Th | Practically unlimited (thousands cycle) | Actively used (thorium fission cycle) |
| He-3 | Thel surface | Being mined |
| U | Moderate | Auxiliary |
| Geothermal | High (tectonic active) | Regional |
| Hydro | Moderate | Fully developed |
| Orbital solar | High | Partial |
Ruun Ven
- 10-stage formation ~6.5 bln cycle: accretion → differentiation → bombardment → primary crust → outgassing → 1st tectonic cycle → Gharra impact (5.5) → stabilization → O₂ catastrophe (4.0–3.8) → modern (3.8–now).
- Protoplanetary cloud [Fe/H] = +0.12 → Th anomaly 2.5× → fusion foundation.
- Gharra impact: ~102–163 mo body → basin ~711 mo, crustal asymmetry → 3 continent.
- Core 32% mass, 447 mo outer / 206 mo inner, 42 µT.
- 10 plate, avg drift 2.0 pa/cycle, no supervolcanic catastrophe.
- Supercontinent Vaal-Kharak (5.0–4.0 bln cycle-tor) → modern.
- 3 glaciation (each 200 M cycle, 32–45% cover).
- Modern polar caps = 3rd glaciation remnant.
Scenes from this chapter
