Petrology, mineralogy of Martian meteorites and chemical signatures of source reservoirs
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    Abstract:

    Martian meteorites are the only available rock samples from Mars. They provide direct evidence for the composition and chemical evolution of Martian materials, placing constraints on the physical and chemical properties, coremantle differentiation, magmatic process, etc. Martian breccia is compositionally similar to basalts and average Martian crust measured by rover and orbiter missions, representing a geochemically enriched crust. Whereas other Martian meteorites are mainly mafic igneous rocks which formed from mantlederived magma that may erupt to the surface or embed in the subsurface as dikes or sills. Variations of rare earth elements and isotopic compositions indicate heterogeneous mantle sources. Some meteorites have undergone crustal assimilation during ascent, recording chemical signatures of the Martian crust. Martian meteorites have expanded our knowledge on the composition of the exterior and interior, including ① the Martian crust is oxidized and enriched with relatively high 238U/204Pb, low ε142Nd and ε182W. ② The Martian mantle is diverse in oxygen fugacity and rare earth element abundance. At least six different source reservoirs have been identified: three reservoirs for shergottites (low 147Sm/144Nd and 176Lu/177Hf, high 147Sm/144Nd and 176Lu/177Hf, high 147Sm/144Nd and low 176Lu/177Hf), one for nakhlites and chassignites (relatively low 147Sm/144Nd, 176Lu/177Hf and high ε182W), one for NWA 8159, and one for some components of NWA 7034. ③ The heterogeneity of Martian mantle may have formed during early fractionation of Mars. Currently the number of Martian meteorites is around 300. The majority of Martian meteorites were crystallized within the last 650 Ma while the Martian surface is predominantly Hesperian and Noachian. In addition, the composition does not overlap with remote sensing results. The surface rocks have diverse rock types including intermediate to acidic rocks besides basalts, and generally more enriched in SiO2 and alkali than meteorites. Therefore, new missions (including sample return) are recommended to undertake a complementary study of the composition and evolution of Mars.

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Wu Yunhua, Xiao Zhiyong, Hsu Weibiao.2021. Petrology, mineralogy of Martian meteorites and chemical signatures of source reservoirs[J]. Acta Geologica Sinica,95(9):2769-2790

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History
  • Received:May 05,2021
  • Revised:June 12,2021
  • Adopted:
  • Online: July 29,2021
  • Published: