Journal article
The role of assimilation and fractional crystallization in the evolution of the Mars crust
Earth and planetary science letters, Vol.585, p.117514
05/01/2022
DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117514
Abstract
•Assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) aided Mars crust evolution.•AFC models reproduce observations of high-silica volcanic rocks at Gale crater.•Ancient Mars crust is more likely to be affected by AFC due to higher temperatures.•AFC may contribute to crustal diversity on other planets like Venus and Mercury.
Recent findings of evolved martian crustal materials by orbiters and rovers challenged the longstanding notion of an only-tholeiitic basaltic crust. Models exploring intraplate magmatic processes like fractional crystallization show that unrealistic amounts of solid accumulation are sometimes required for the formation of martian evolved materials, including evolved materials analyzed by the Curiosity rover at Gale crater. Assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) play an important role in the diversification of magmas on Earth, but has not been explored for its role in the generation of evolved martian compositions. In this study, we conduct a series of thermodynamic AFC models using the Magma Chamber Simulator (MCS) model interfacing with the Rhyolite-MELTS algorithm to better understand the controls on assimilation and whether it contributed to the evolution of the martian crust. We find that AFC models replicate evolved Gale crater targets effectively at different pressures and water contents. AFC likely contributed to martian crustal formation, particularly evolved compositions. Higher crustal temperatures likely lead to a higher volume of evolved magmas formed by AFC processes on early (rather than modern) Mars. AFC may have also occurred during the Amazonian, especially in the fractured upper layers of crust, although in lower volume than during the Noachian.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The role of assimilation and fractional crystallization in the evolution of the Mars crust
- Creators
- Amanda Ostwald - University of Nevada, Las VegasArya Udry - University of Nevada, Las VegasValerie Payré - Northern Arizona UniversityEsteban Gazel - Cornell UniversityPeiyu Wu - Cornell University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Earth and planetary science letters, Vol.585, p.117514
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117514
- ISSN
- 0012-821X
- eISSN
- 1385-013X
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: 80NSSC17K0477
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984294924902771
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