Geochemistry of and alteration phases in martian lherzolite Y-793605

We have done preliminary SEM characterization of alteration phases on an exterior and an interior chip of martian lherzolite Yamato-793605,and have performed instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation analyses of a glass-poor and a glass-rich interior sample of the rock for a suite of 31 major and trace elements. To date, we have identified silica (containing minor amounts of S, K, Fe, Al), K-Fe-sulfate (probably jarosite) and Fe-phosphate as alteration phases in Y-793605. Of these, the silica and K-Fe-sulfate are likely terrestrial weathering products. Other evidence of alteration consists of what appear to be partly decomposed Ca-phosphate grains, which were probably originally igneous grains. No carbonates or Ca-sulfates have been identified as yet, and none of the alteration phases we have identified are unambiguously of martian origin. Compositionally, Y-793605 is very similar to the other two martian lherzolites ALHA77005 and LEW 88516. Our sample of Y-793605 is lower in the incompatible lithophile trace elements, such as the REE, than the average of either ALHA77005 or LEW 88516,but is within the ranges of individual analyses for ALHA77005. Y-793605 is a partial cumulate like the other lherzolites, but our sample contained less of a trapped melt component