On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution
The lunar magnesian-suite (Mg-suite) was produced during the earliest periods of magmatic activity on the Moon. Based on the cumulate textures of the samples and a lack of evidence for Mg-suite extrusives in both the sample and remote sensing databases, several petrogenetic models deduce a predomina...
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ftsmithonian:oai:repository.si.edu:10088/28786 2023-05-15T18:23:23+02:00 On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution Prissel, Tabb C. Whitten, Jennifer L. Parman, Stephen W. Head, James W. 2016 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/10088/28786 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.018 unknown Icarus Prissel, Tabb C., Whitten, Jennifer L., Parman, Stephen W., and Head, James W. 2016. " On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution ." Icarus . 277:319–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.018 0019-1035 https://hdl.handle.net/10088/28786 139585 doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.018 Journal Article 2016 ftsmithonian https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.018 2020-09-09T18:35:24Z The lunar magnesian-suite (Mg-suite) was produced during the earliest periods of magmatic activity on the Moon. Based on the cumulate textures of the samples and a lack of evidence for Mg-suite extrusives in both the sample and remote sensing databases, several petrogenetic models deduce a predominantly intrusive magmatic history for Mg-suite lithologies. Considering that ~18% of the lunar surface is covered by mare basalt flows, which are substantially higher in density than estimated Mg-suite magmas (~2900 versus ~2700 kg/m3), the apparent absence of low-density Mg-suite volcanics is surprising. Were Mg-suite magmas predominantly intrusive, or have their extrusive equivalents been covered by subsequent impact ejecta and/or later stage volcanism? If Mg-suite magmas were predominantly intrusive, what prevented these melts from erupting? Or, if they are present as extrusives, what regions of the Moon are most likely to contain Mg-suite volcanic deposits? This study investigates buoyancy-driven magmatic ascent of Mg-suite parental melts and is motivated by recent measurements of crustal density from GRAIL. Mg-suite dunite, troctolite, and spinel anorthosite parental melts (2742, 2699, and 2648 kg/m3 respectively) are considered, all of which have much lower melt densities relative to mare basalts and picritic glasses. Mg-suite parental melts are more dense than most of the crust and would not be expected to buoyantly erupt. However, about 10% of the lunar crust is higher in density than Mg-suite melts. These areas are primarily within the nearside southern highlands and South Pole-Aitken (SP-A) basin. Mg-suite extrusions and/or shallow intrusions were possible within these regions, assuming crustal density structure at > 4.1Ga was similar to the present day crust. We review evidence for Mg-suite activity within both the southern highlands and SP-A and discuss the implications concerning crustal evolution as well as Mg-suite petrogenesis. Lower crustal densities measured by GRAIL are consistent with the lack of observed Mg-suite extrusives. If Mg-suite extrusive volcanism was prevented by the low density of the crust, it would suggest the lunar crust was either fractured shortly after solidification or that the thermal- and stress-state of the lunar crust inhibited extrusion. NASM NASM-CEPS Peer-reviewed Article in Journal/Newspaper South pole Unknown Aitken ENVELOPE(-44.516,-44.516,-60.733,-60.733) South Pole Icarus 277 319 329 |
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Open Polar |
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ftsmithonian |
language |
unknown |
description |
The lunar magnesian-suite (Mg-suite) was produced during the earliest periods of magmatic activity on the Moon. Based on the cumulate textures of the samples and a lack of evidence for Mg-suite extrusives in both the sample and remote sensing databases, several petrogenetic models deduce a predominantly intrusive magmatic history for Mg-suite lithologies. Considering that ~18% of the lunar surface is covered by mare basalt flows, which are substantially higher in density than estimated Mg-suite magmas (~2900 versus ~2700 kg/m3), the apparent absence of low-density Mg-suite volcanics is surprising. Were Mg-suite magmas predominantly intrusive, or have their extrusive equivalents been covered by subsequent impact ejecta and/or later stage volcanism? If Mg-suite magmas were predominantly intrusive, what prevented these melts from erupting? Or, if they are present as extrusives, what regions of the Moon are most likely to contain Mg-suite volcanic deposits? This study investigates buoyancy-driven magmatic ascent of Mg-suite parental melts and is motivated by recent measurements of crustal density from GRAIL. Mg-suite dunite, troctolite, and spinel anorthosite parental melts (2742, 2699, and 2648 kg/m3 respectively) are considered, all of which have much lower melt densities relative to mare basalts and picritic glasses. Mg-suite parental melts are more dense than most of the crust and would not be expected to buoyantly erupt. However, about 10% of the lunar crust is higher in density than Mg-suite melts. These areas are primarily within the nearside southern highlands and South Pole-Aitken (SP-A) basin. Mg-suite extrusions and/or shallow intrusions were possible within these regions, assuming crustal density structure at > 4.1Ga was similar to the present day crust. We review evidence for Mg-suite activity within both the southern highlands and SP-A and discuss the implications concerning crustal evolution as well as Mg-suite petrogenesis. Lower crustal densities measured by GRAIL are consistent with the lack of observed Mg-suite extrusives. If Mg-suite extrusive volcanism was prevented by the low density of the crust, it would suggest the lunar crust was either fractured shortly after solidification or that the thermal- and stress-state of the lunar crust inhibited extrusion. NASM NASM-CEPS Peer-reviewed |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Prissel, Tabb C. Whitten, Jennifer L. Parman, Stephen W. Head, James W. |
spellingShingle |
Prissel, Tabb C. Whitten, Jennifer L. Parman, Stephen W. Head, James W. On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution |
author_facet |
Prissel, Tabb C. Whitten, Jennifer L. Parman, Stephen W. Head, James W. |
author_sort |
Prissel, Tabb C. |
title |
On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution |
title_short |
On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution |
title_full |
On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution |
title_fullStr |
On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution |
title_full_unstemmed |
On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution |
title_sort |
on the potential for lunar highlands mg-suite extrusive volcanism & implications concerning crustal evolution |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10088/28786 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.018 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-44.516,-44.516,-60.733,-60.733) |
geographic |
Aitken South Pole |
geographic_facet |
Aitken South Pole |
genre |
South pole |
genre_facet |
South pole |
op_relation |
Icarus Prissel, Tabb C., Whitten, Jennifer L., Parman, Stephen W., and Head, James W. 2016. " On the Potential for Lunar Highlands Mg-suite Extrusive Volcanism & Implications Concerning Crustal Evolution ." Icarus . 277:319–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.018 0019-1035 https://hdl.handle.net/10088/28786 139585 doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.018 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2016.05.018 |
container_title |
Icarus |
container_volume |
277 |
container_start_page |
319 |
op_container_end_page |
329 |
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1766202957812989952 |