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Title: A review of lunar chronology revealing a preponderance of 4.34-4.37 Ga ages

Abstract

In this study, data obtained from Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic measurements of lunar highlands’ samples are renormalized to common standard values and then used to define ages with a common isochron regression algorithm. The reliability of these ages is evaluated using five criteria that include whether: (1) the ages are defined by multiple isotopic systems, (2) the data demonstrate limited scatter outside uncertainty, (3) initial isotopic compositions are consistent with the petrogenesis of the samples, (4) the ages are defined by an isotopic system that is resistant to disturbance by impact metamorphism, and (5) the rare-earth element abundances determined by isotope dilution of bulk of mineral fractions match those measured by in situ analyses. From this analysis, it is apparent that the oldest highlands’ rock ages are some of the least reliable, and that there is little support for crustal ages older than ~4.40 Ga. A model age for ur-KREEP formation calculated using the most reliable Mg-suite Sm-Nd isotopic systematics, in conjunction with Sm-Nd analyses of KREEP basalts, is 4389 ± 45 Ma. This age is a good match to the Lu-Hf model age of 4353 ± 37 Ma determined using a subset of this sample suite, the average modelmore » age of 4353 ± 25 Ma determined on mare basalts with the 146Sm-142Nd isotopic system, with a peak in Pb-Pb ages observed in lunar zircons of ~4340 ± 20 Ma, and the oldest terrestrial zircon age of 4374 ± 6 Ma. The preponderance of ages between 4.34 and 4.37 Ga reflect either primordial solidification of a lunar magma ocean or a widespread secondary magmatic event on the lunar nearside. The first scenario is not consistent with the oldest ages reported for lunar zircons, whereas the second scenario does not account for concordance between ages of crustal rocks and mantle reservoirs.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1249132
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-655538
Journal ID: ISSN 1086-9379
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Meteoritics and Planetary Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 50; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 1086-9379
Publisher:
Wiley
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS

Citation Formats

Borg, Lars E., Gaffney, Amy M., and Shearer, Charles K. A review of lunar chronology revealing a preponderance of 4.34-4.37 Ga ages. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1111/maps.12373.
Borg, Lars E., Gaffney, Amy M., & Shearer, Charles K. A review of lunar chronology revealing a preponderance of 4.34-4.37 Ga ages. United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.12373
Borg, Lars E., Gaffney, Amy M., and Shearer, Charles K. 2014. "A review of lunar chronology revealing a preponderance of 4.34-4.37 Ga ages". United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.12373. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1249132.
@article{osti_1249132,
title = {A review of lunar chronology revealing a preponderance of 4.34-4.37 Ga ages},
author = {Borg, Lars E. and Gaffney, Amy M. and Shearer, Charles K.},
abstractNote = {In this study, data obtained from Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic measurements of lunar highlands’ samples are renormalized to common standard values and then used to define ages with a common isochron regression algorithm. The reliability of these ages is evaluated using five criteria that include whether: (1) the ages are defined by multiple isotopic systems, (2) the data demonstrate limited scatter outside uncertainty, (3) initial isotopic compositions are consistent with the petrogenesis of the samples, (4) the ages are defined by an isotopic system that is resistant to disturbance by impact metamorphism, and (5) the rare-earth element abundances determined by isotope dilution of bulk of mineral fractions match those measured by in situ analyses. From this analysis, it is apparent that the oldest highlands’ rock ages are some of the least reliable, and that there is little support for crustal ages older than ~4.40 Ga. A model age for ur-KREEP formation calculated using the most reliable Mg-suite Sm-Nd isotopic systematics, in conjunction with Sm-Nd analyses of KREEP basalts, is 4389 ± 45 Ma. This age is a good match to the Lu-Hf model age of 4353 ± 37 Ma determined using a subset of this sample suite, the average model age of 4353 ± 25 Ma determined on mare basalts with the 146Sm-142Nd isotopic system, with a peak in Pb-Pb ages observed in lunar zircons of ~4340 ± 20 Ma, and the oldest terrestrial zircon age of 4374 ± 6 Ma. The preponderance of ages between 4.34 and 4.37 Ga reflect either primordial solidification of a lunar magma ocean or a widespread secondary magmatic event on the lunar nearside. The first scenario is not consistent with the oldest ages reported for lunar zircons, whereas the second scenario does not account for concordance between ages of crustal rocks and mantle reservoirs.},
doi = {10.1111/maps.12373},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1249132}, journal = {Meteoritics and Planetary Science},
issn = {1086-9379},
number = 4,
volume = 50,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2014},
month = {Mon Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 2014}
}

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  • Carlson, Richard W.; Borg, Lars E.; Gaffney, Amy M.
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 372, Issue 2024
  • https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2013.0246

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Effect of Re-Impacting Debris on the Solidification of the Lunar Magma Ocean
posted_content, January 2018


Effect of Reimpacting Debris on the Solidification of the Lunar Magma Ocean
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Effect of Re-impacting Debris on the Solidification of the Lunar Magma Ocean
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Illusory Late Heavy Bombardments
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Distribution of Radioactive Heat Sources and Thermal History of the Moon
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Investigating the shock histories of lunar meteorites Miller Range 090034, 090070, and 090075 using petrography, geochemistry, and micro-FTIR spectroscopy
journal, May 2017


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