期刊
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
卷 49, 期 2, 页码 -出版社
AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION
DOI: 10.1029/2021GL095408
关键词
magma ocean; lunar anorthosite; lunar crust; suspension
资金
- IDEXLyon Project of the University of Lyon [ANR-16IDEX-0005]
- European Research Council (ERC) under the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme [101 001 689]
- PNP/INSU/CNES
This article proposes a new model of slushy magma ocean crystallization for the formation of the lunar crust. The model explains the compositional diversity of lunar anorthosites and suggests a crustal formation timescale of millions of years.
Classical fractional crystallization scenarios of early lunar evolution suggest crustal formation by the flotation of light anorthite minerals from a liquid magma ocean. However, this model is challenged by the >200 $ > 200$ Myr age range of primitive ferroan anorthosites, their concordance with Mg-suite magmatism and by the compositional diversity observed in lunar anorthosites. Here, we propose a new model of slushy magma ocean crystallization in which crystals remain suspended in the lunar interior and crust formation only begins once a critical crystal content is reached. Thereafter crustal formation occurs by buoyant melt extraction and magmatism. The mixture viscosity strongly depends on temperature and solid fraction driving the development of a surface stagnant lid where enhanced solidification and buoyant ascent of melt lead to an anorthite-enriched crust. This model explains lunar anorthosites heterogeneity and suggests a crustal formation timescale of 100s Ma, reconciling anorthosite ages with an early age of the Moon.
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