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Chemical heterogeneities reveal early rapid cooling of Apollo Troctolite 76535

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Listed:
  • William S. Nelson

    (University of Hawaii at Mānoa)

  • Julia E. Hammer

    (University of Hawaii at Mānoa)

  • Thomas Shea

    (University of Hawaii at Mānoa)

  • Eric Hellebrand

    (Utrecht University)

  • G. Jeffrey Taylor

    (University of Hawaii at Mānoa)

Abstract

The evolution of the lunar interior is constrained by samples of the magnesian suite of rocks returned by the Apollo missions. Reconciling the paradoxical geochemical features of this suite constitutes a feasibility test of lunar differentiation models. Here we present the results of a microanalytical examination of the archetypal specimen, troctolite 76535, previously thought to have cooled slowly from a large magma body. We report a degree of intra-crystalline compositional heterogeneity (phosphorus in olivine and sodium in plagioclase) fundamentally inconsistent with prolonged residence at high temperature. Diffusion chronometry shows these heterogeneities could not have survived magmatic temperatures for >~20 My, i.e., far less than the previous estimated cooling duration of >100 My. Quantitative modeling provides a constraint on the thermal history of the lower lunar crust, and the textural evidence of dissolution and reprecipitation in olivine grains supports reactive melt infiltration as the mechanism by which the magnesian suite formed.

Suggested Citation

  • William S. Nelson & Julia E. Hammer & Thomas Shea & Eric Hellebrand & G. Jeffrey Taylor, 2021. "Chemical heterogeneities reveal early rapid cooling of Apollo Troctolite 76535," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-26841-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26841-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lars E. Borg & James N. Connelly & Maud Boyet & Richard W. Carlson, 2011. "Chronological evidence that the Moon is either young or did not have a global magma ocean," Nature, Nature, vol. 477(7362), pages 70-72, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tabb C. Prissel & Nan Zhang & Colin R. M. Jackson & Haoyuan Li, 2023. "Rapid transition from primary to secondary crust building on the Moon explained by mantle overturn," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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