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How do the heavier elements form super supernova explosions?
Explain the nuclear processes that combined lighter elements into heavier elements.
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A star is a giant nuclear fusion reaction that is a delicate balance between the forces of gravity attempting to compress the star and the energy released by the hydrogen fusion attempting to expand it.
The intense gravitational pressure caused by the mass of the star allows it to fuse hydrogen into helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process.
As the star begins to run out of hydrogen in the core, it cools, causing the core to contract under gravity and compress further until the helium can be compressed enough to form carbon. This is as far as most "main sequence" stars go. When they run out of helium they cool and expand.
Larger stars get more interesting> They have enough mass to continue to collapse and generate enough pressure to combine heavier and heavier elements until the core is iron, at which time fusion cannot be supported. The star collapses and then explodes into a supernova. This explosion releases these heavier elements into space.
The intense gravitational pressure caused by the mass of the star allows it to fuse hydrogen into helium, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process.
As the star begins to run out of hydrogen in the core, it cools, causing the core to contract under gravity and compress further until the helium can be compressed enough to form carbon. This is as far as most "main sequence" stars go. When they run out of helium they cool and expand.
Larger stars get more interesting> They have enough mass to continue to collapse and generate enough pressure to combine heavier and heavier elements until the core is iron, at which time fusion cannot be supported. The star collapses and then explodes into a supernova. This explosion releases these heavier elements into space.
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How does iron localize after the supernova explosion?
As far as localization or concentration, this is a little more "terrestrial". This is caused by geography and environmental conditions. For instance, gold is actually distributed across the surface of the earth relatively uniformly, however due to geology, ocean currents, continental drift and many other factors, it has collected in concentrations in various places. Geologists have a pretty good handle on the conditions that cause this concentration which is why exploring for gold is not a random act of discovery, but a carefully planned activity.