Magnesium stable isotopes support the lunar magma ocean cumulate remelting model for mare basalts.

ABSTRACT: We report high-precision Mg isotopic analyses of different types of lunar samples including two pristine Mg-suite rocks (72415 and 76535), basalts, anorthosites, breccias, mineral separates, and lunar meteorites. The Mg isotopic composition of the dunite 72415 (δ25Mg = -0.140 ± 0.010‰, δ26Mg = -0.291 ± 0.018‰), the most Mg-rich and possibly the oldest lunar sample, may provide the best estimate of the Mg isotopic composition of the bulk silicate Moon (BSM). This δ26Mg value of the Moon is similar to those of the Earth and chondrites and reflects both the relative homogeneity of Mg isotopes in the solar system and the lack of Mg isotope fractionation by the Moon-forming giant impact. In contrast to the behavior of Mg isotopes in terrestrial basalts and mantle rocks, Mg isotopic data on luna

SUBMITTER: Sedaghatpour F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6320516 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature