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Note against a small-body origin for shergottites, nakhlites, and chassignites

Journal Article · · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

With the possible exception of Brachina, shergottites, nakhlites, and chassignites all crystallized about 1.3 b.y. ago on the same planet, and they were probably ejected from it together about 180 m.y. ago. No breccias from the parent planet have yet been identified, thus a dominantly impact-processed surface or a small body internal melt scenario is virtually untenable. These meteorites must have formed in a magmatic complex, and on a planet from which it was difficult to remove material: as far as we know, it only happened once. Everything we know about shergottites, nakhlites, and Chassigny is consistent with an igneous origin on Mars.

Research Organization:
Lunar Curatorial Laboratory, Northrop Services, Inc., P.O. Box 34416, Houston, Texas 77234
OSTI ID:
5987748
Journal Information:
J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 87:S1; ISSN JGREA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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