Authors
Ananya Mallik, Tariq Ejaz, Svyatoslav Shcheka, Gordana Garapic
Publication date
2019/4/1
Journal
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume
250
Pages
238-250
Publisher
Pergamon
Description
Lunar mantle overturn caused by gravitational instability of the Fe-Ti rich KREEP layer (formed as the last 5% of a crystallizing magma ocean, and emplaced between the overlying anorthitic crust and the underlying lunar mantle) is a process that would introduce Fe-Ti enriched bodies deep inside the lunar interior. These chemical heterogeneities in the lunar mantle may be the source of the very Fe-Ti enriched near-primary Apollo basalts. Also, the Fe-Ti and KREEP enriched layer deep inside the Moon may be responsible for the 5–30% partial melt seismically detected close to the core-mantle boundary (CMB). This is assuming that the partial melt is neutrally buoyant at P-T conditions of the CMB. Here, we experimentally investigate the phase equilibria of the overturned Fe-Ti rich layer mixed with the mantle, at P-T conditions deep inside the lunar interior, focusing on the partial melt compositions formed. Our aim is …
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