The thermal state of the earth

Abstract

"The available data related to the internal heat of the earth are reviewed. From these considerations it is concluded that: (1) The average radioactivities of surface rocks show a steady decrease with increase of density, though there is much scatter within a given type. (2) Heat generated at depths up to 300 km. or so has had sufficient time to approach a state where it is conducted out as rapidly as it is produced. (3) Nothing in the new results encourages the hope that fusion temperatures are a normal feature at any depth within the crust. (4) The thermal contraction available for mountain formation remains essentially unchanged except that a more uniform rate is suggested."