  The origin of the terrestrial atmosphere is one of the most puzzling enigmas
in the planetary sciences. It is suggested here that two sources contributed to
its formation, fractionated nebular gases and accreted cometary volatiles.
During terrestrial growth, a transient gas envelope was fractionated from
nebular composition. This transient atmosphere was mixed with cometary
material. The fractionation stage resulted in a high Xe/Kr ratio, with xenon
being more isotopically fractionated than krypton. Comets delivered volatiles
having low Xe/Kr ratios and solar isotopic compositions. The resulting
atmosphere had a near-solar Xe/Kr ratio, almost unfractionated krypton
delivered by comets, and fractionated xenon inherited from the fractionation
episode. The dual origin therefore provides an elegant solution to the
long-standing "missing xenon" paradox. It is demonstrated that such a model
could explain the isotopic and elemental abundances of Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe in
the terrestrial atmosphere.
