Lunar and terrestrial crust formation

Journal Article · Mon Nov 14 23:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JB088iS01p00B17· OSTI ID:5016006

Walker, D

Planetary crusts may be accreted, produced in primordial differentiation, or built up piecemeal by serial magmatism. The existence of old, polygenetic, laterally heterogeneous, partial melt rocks in the lunar highlands suggests that the moon produced its early crust by serial magmatism. This view can be reconciled with lunar Eu anomalies, previously thought to support the magma ocean model of crust formation, if complications in the fractionation of mare basalts are reconized. Phase equilibrium and magmatic density information for mare basalts suggest a model in which plagioclase fractionation can occur even though plagioclase is not a near-liquidus phase. The crytic fractionation of clinopryoxene in MORB provides a precedent for this model. The necessity for a lunar magma ocean is questioned, but a role for a terrestrial magma ocean of sorts at depth is suggested.

• Research Organization: Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory and Department of Geological Sciences, Columbia University
• OSTI ID: 5016006
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 88:S2; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH CRUST
ELEMENTS
EUROPIUM
FRACTIONATION
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
MAGNETISM
METALS
MINERALS
MOON
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETARY EVOLUTION
PYROXENES
RARE EARTHS
SATELLITES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION