Ancient Phases of Our Moon: Application of Experimental &amp; Igneous Petrology to the Formation History of the Lunar Highlands Mg-suite

Prissel, Tabb C.

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Year:: 2015
Contributor:: Prissel, Tabb C (creator); Parman, Stephen (Director); Head, James (Reader); Jolliff, Bradley (Reader); Pieters, Carle (Reader); Rutherford, Malcolm (Reader); Brown University. Geological Sciences (sponsor)
Genre:: theses
Subject:: Experimental Petrology; Mg-suite; Lunar Highlands; Magma-Wallrock Interactions; Spinel; Moon
Extent:: xiii, 221 p.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7301/Z0VM49NS

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Abstract:: “Pink” Mg-spinel is a rare mineral among rock samples returned during the Apollo missions and is typically associated with the lunar highlands Mg-suite (a small group of plutonic, igneous rock fragments and clasts). The Mg-suite samples represent the earliest stages of intrusive magmatism on the Moon and their formation history is linked to some of the major hypotheses concerning planetary evolution including: 1) the differentiation of a global magma ocean (that may have accumulated an ultramafic, Mg-rich source region in which, Mg-suite parental melts are derived) and 2) cumulate mantle overturn (thought to have resulted in the upwelling and pressure release melting of the ultramafic source region, bringing Mg-suite parental melts toward the surface with subsequent intrusions into the primary lunar crust). Although the Mg-suite samples are integral to our understanding of the early evolution of the Moon, the geologic processes surrounding the final stages of their formation history are not well constrained. This dissertation tests current Mg-suite petrogenetic theories using the mineral spinel as a petrogenetic tracer. Experimental and igneous petrology is used in combination with natural data and characterizations made by orbital remote sensing methods to distinguish between current formation hypotheses. Conclusions throughout suggest magma-wallrock interactions played a key role in forming rare "pink" Mg-spinel (observed primarily in Mg-suite troctolites). Therefore, magma-wallrock interactions should be revisited as a petrogenetic process in the early Moon, particularly for the Mg-suite. Additionally, a robust chemical connection is found between remote observations of “pink” Mg-spinel lithologies and the lunar highlands Mg-suite. Thus, the remote detection of Mg-spinel may provide scientists with the unique capability in defining the extent and distribution of sub-surface Mg-suite magmatism on a global scale.
Notes:: Thesis (Ph.D. -- Brown University (2015)

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Prissel, Tabb C., "Ancient Phases of Our Moon: Application of Experimental & Igneous Petrology to the Formation History of the Lunar Highlands Mg-suite" (2015). Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Theses and Dissertations. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://doi.org/10.7301/Z0VM49NS

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Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations for the Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences department.
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Ancient Phases of Our Moon: Application of Experimental & Igneous Petrology to the Formation History of the Lunar Highlands Mg-suite