Crystallization of the lunar magma ocean and the primordial mantle-crust differentiation of the Moon
- Charlier, Bernard
- Grove, Timothy L
- Namur, Olivier
- Holtz, Francois
DOIAbstract
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd We present crystallization experiments on silicate melt compositions related to the lunar magma ocean (LMO) and its evolution with cooling. Our approach aims at constraining the primordial internal differentiation of the Moon into mantle and crust. We used graphite capsules in piston cylinder (1.35–0.80 GPa) and internally-heated pressure vessels (<0.50 GPa), over 1580–1020 °C, and produced melt compositions using a stepwise approach that reproduces fractional crystallization. Using our new experimental dataset, we define phase equilibria and equations predicting the saturation of liquidus phases, magma temperature, and crystal/melt partitioning for major elements relevant for the crystallization of the LMO. These empiri...
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