The composition of the primitive mantle derived here shows that Earth was assembled from material that shows many of the same chemical fractionation processes as chondritic meteorites. These processes occurred at the initial stage of the solar system formation, under conditions thought to be present in the solar nebula. But the stable isotope record excludes chondritic meteorites as the ‘building blocks’ of Earth. Meteorites formed in local environments separated from that part of the inner solar system where much of the material forming the terrestrial planets was sourced.

https://booksite.elsevier.com/brochures/treatiseongeochemistry/contents/sample2.pdf

Cosmochemical Estimates of Mantle Composition

The SNC meteorites are thought to be igneous martian rocks, based on their young crystallization ages and a close match between the composition of gases implanted in them during shock and the atmosphere of Mars. A related meteorite, ALH84001, may be older and thus may represent ancient martian crust. These petrologically diverse basalts and ultramafic rocks are mostly cumulates, but their parent magmas share geochemical and radiogenic isotopic characteristics that suggest they may have formed by remelting the same mantle source region at different times. Information and inferences about martian geology drawn from these samples include the following: Planetary differentiation occured early at approximately 4.5 GA, probably concurrently with accretion. The martian mantle contains different abundances of moderately volatile and siderophile elements and is more Fe-rich than that of the Earth, which has implications for its mineralogy, density, and origin. The estimated core composition has a S abundance near the threshold value for inner core solidification. The former presence of a core dynamo may be suggested by remanent magnetization in Shergottite-Nakhlite-Chassignite (SNC) meteorites, although these rocks may have been magnetized during shock. The mineralogy of martian surface units, inferred from reflectance spectra, matches that of basaltic shergottites, but SNC lithologies thought to have crystallized in the subsurface are not presently recognized. The rheological properties of martian magmas are more accurately derived form these metorites than from observations of martian flow morphology, although the sampled range of magma compositions islimited. Estimates of planetary water abundance and the amount of outgassed water based on these meteorites are contridictory but overlap estimates based on geological observations and atmospheric measurements. Stable isotope measurements indicate that the martian hydrosphere experienced only limited exchange with the lithosphere, but it is in isotopic equilibrium with the atmosphere and has been since 1.3 Ga. The isotopically heavy atmosphere/hydrosphere composition deduced from these rocks reflects a loss process more severe than current atmospheric evolution models, and the occurence of carbonates in SNC meteorites suggest that they, rather than scapolite or hydrous carbonates, are the major crustal sink for CO2. Weathering products in SNC meteorites support the idea of limited alteration of the lithosphere by small volumes of saline, CO2-bearing water. Atmospheric composition and evolution are further constrained by noble gases in these meteorites, although Xe and Kr isotopes suggest different origins for the atmosphere. Planetary ejection of these rocks has promoted an advance in the understanding of impact physics, which has been accomplished by a model involving spallation during large cratering events. Ejection of all the SNC meteorites (except ALH84001) in one or two events may provide a plausible solution to most constraints imposed by chronology, geochemistry, and cosmic ray exposure, although problems remain with this scenario; ALH84001 may represent older martian crust sampled during a separate impact.

What we have learned about Mars from SNC meteorites

We review the radiometric ages of the 16 currently known Martian meteorites, classified as 11 shergottites (8 basaltic and 3 lherzolitic), 3 nakhlites (clinopyroxenites), Chassigny (a dunite), and the orthopyroxenite ALH84001. The basaltic shergottites represent surface lava flows, the others magmas that solidified at depth. Shock effects correlate with these compositional types, and, in each case, they can be attributed to a single shock event, most likely the meteorite’s ejection from Mars. Peak pressures in the range 15 – 45 GPa appear to be a “launch window”: shergottites experienced ~ 30 – 45 GPa, nakhlites ~ 20 ± 5 GPa, Chassigny ~35 GPa, and ALH84001 ~35 – 40 GPa. Two meteorites, lherzolitic shergottite Y-793605 and orthopyroxenite ALH84001, are monomict breccias, indicating a two-phase shock history in toto: monomict brecciation at depth in a first impact and later shock metamorphism in a second impact, probably the ejection event.

/pdf/ages-and-geologic-histories-of-martian-meteorites-3pkv192wbm.pdf

Ages and Geologic Histories of Martian Meteorites

New high-precision samarium-neodymium isotopic data for chondritic meteorites show that their 142Nd/144Nd ratio is 20 parts per million lower than that of most terrestrial rocks This difference indicates that most (70 to 95%) of Earth9s mantle is compositionally similar to the incompatible element–depleted source of mid-ocean ridge basalts, possibly as a result of a global differentiation 453 billion years ago (Ga), within 30 million years of Earth9s formation The complementary enriched reservoir has never been sampled and is probably located at the base of the mantle These data influence models of Earth9s compositional structure and require revision of the timing of global differentiation on Earth9s Moon and Mars

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/309/5734/576.full.pdf

142Nd Evidence for Early (>4.53 Ga) Global Differentiation of the Silicate Earth

Hf-W chronology of the accretion and early evolution of asteroids and terrestrial planets

Chronology and petrogenesis of young achondrites, Shergotty, Zagami, and ALHA77005 - Late magmatism on a geologically active planet

146Sm-142Nd formation interval for the lunar mantle

We evaluate initial (Al-26/Al-27)(sub I), (Mn-53/Mn-55)(sub I), (Hf-182/Hf-180)(sub I), and Pb-207/Pb-206 ages for igneous differentiated meteorites and chondrules from ordinary chondrites for consistency with radioactive decay of the parent nuclides within a common, closed isotopic system, i.e., the early solar nebula. We find that the relative abundances of Al-26, Mn-53, and Hf-182, here denoted by I(Al)(sub CAI, I(Mn)(sub CAI) and I(Hf)(sub CAI), are consistent with decay from common initial values for the bulk solar system. I(Mn)(sub CAI) and I(Hf)(sub CAI) = 9.1+/-1.7 x 10(exp -6) and 1.06+/-0.09 x 10(exp -6) respectively, correspond to the canonical value of I(Al)(sub CAI) = 5.1 x 10(exp -5). I(Hf)(sub CAI) thus determined is consistent with I(Hf)(sub CAI) = 1.003+/-0.045 x 10(exp -6) directly determined in separate work. I(Mn)(sub CAI) is within error of the lowest value directly determined for CAI. We suggest that erratically higher values directly determined for CAI in carbonaceous chondrites reflect proton irradiation of unaccreted CAIs by the early Sun after other asteroids destined for melting by Al-26 decay had already accreted. The Mn-53 incorporated within such asteroids would have been shielded from further "local" spallogenic contributions. The relative abundances of the short-lived nuclides are less consistent with the Pb-207/Pb-206 ages of the corresponding materials with the best consistency being obtained between (Hf-182/Hf-180)(sub I) and Pb-207/Pb-206 ages of angrites. (Hf-182/Hf-180)(sub I) decreases with decreasing Pb-207/Pb-206 ages at the rate expected from the 8.90+/-0.09 Ma half-life of Hf-182. However, the model "CAI age" thus determined, T(sub CAI,Mn-W) = 4568.6+/-0.7 Ma, is older than the commonly accepted directly measured value T(sub CAI) = 4567.l+/-0.2 Ma. I(Al)(sub I), and (Mn-53/Mn-55)(sub I) are less consistent with Pb-207/Pb-206 ages, but determine T(sub CAI, Mn-Cr) = 4568.3+/-0.5 Ma relative to I(AI)(sub CAI)= 5.1 x 10(exp -5) and a Pb-207/Pb-206 age of 4558.6 Ma for the LEW86010 angrite. However. the (Mn-53/Mn-55)(sub I) and Pb-207/Pb-206 ages of "intermediate" age D'Orbigny-clan angrites and Asuka 881394 are inconsistent with radioactive decay from CAI values with a Mn-55 half-life of 3.7+/-0.4 Ma. in spite of consistency between (Mn-53/Mn-55)(sub I) and (Al-26/Al-27)(sub I). Nevertheless, it appears that the Mn-Cr method with I(Mn)(sub CAI) = 9.1+/-1.7 x 10(exp -6) can be used to date primary igneous events and also secondary mineralization on asteroid parent bodies. We summarize ages thus determined for igneous events on differentiated asteroids and for carbonate and fayalite formation on carbonaceous asteroids.

/pdf/the-chronology-of-asteroid-accretion-differentiation-and-4j8z1u9uah.pdf

The Chronology of Asteroid Accretion, Differentiation, and Secondary Mineralization

— Whole-chondrule Mn-Cr isochrons are presented for chondrules separated from the Chainpur (LL3.4) and Bishunpur (LL3.1) meteorites. The chondrules were initially surveyed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. LL-chondrite-normalized Mn/Cr, Mn/Fe, and Sc/Fe served to identify chondrules with unusually high or low Mn/Cr ratios, and to correlate the abundances of other elements to Sc, the most refractory element measured. A subset of chondrules from each chondrite was chosen for analysis by a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer prior to high-precision Cr-isotopic analyses. 53Cr/52Cr correlates with 55Mn/52Cr to give initial (53Mn/55Mn)I = (9.4 ± 1.7) × 10−6 for Chainpur chondrules and (53Mn/55Mn)I = (9.5 ± 3.1) × 10−6 for Bishunpur chondrules. The corresponding chondrule formation intervals are, respectively, ΔtLEW = −10 ± 1 Ma for Chainpur and −10 ± 2 Ma for Bishunpur relative to the time of igneous crystallization of the Lewis Cliff (LEW) 86010 angrite. Because Mn/Sc correlates positively with Mn/Cr for both the Chainpur and Bishunpur chondrules, indicating dependence of the Mn/Cr ratio on the relative volatility of the elements, we identify the event dated by the isochrons as volatility-driven elemental fractionation for chondrule precursors in the solar nebula. Thus, our data suggest that the precursors to LL chondrules condensed from the nebula 5.8 ± 2.7 Ma after the time when initial (53Mn/55Mn)I = (2.8 ± 0.3) × 10−5 for calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), our preferred value, determined from data for (a) mineral separates of type B Allende CAI BR1, (b) spinels from Efremovka CAI E38, and (c) bulk chondrites.



Mn-Cr formation intervals for meteorites are presented relative to average I(Mn) = (53Mn/55Mn)Ch = 9.46 × 10−6 for chondrules. Mn/Cr ratios for radiogenic growth of 53Cr in the solar nebula and later reservoirs are calculated relative to average (I(Mn), ∍(53Cr)I) = ((9.46 ± 0.08) × 10−6, −0.23 ± 0.08) for chondrules. Inferred values of Mn/Cr lie within expected ranges. Thus, it appears that evolution of the Cr-isotopic composition can be traced from condensation of CAIs via condensation of the ferromagnesian precursors of chondrules to basalt generation on differentiated asteroids. Measured values of ∍(53Cr) for individual chondrules exhibit the entire range of values that has been observed as initial ∍(53Cr) values for samples from various planetary objects, and which has been attributed to radial heterogeneity in initial 53Mn/55Mn in the early solar system. Estimated 55Mn/52Cr = 0.42 ± 0.05 for the bulk Earth, combined with ∍(53Cr) = 0 for the Earth, plots very close to the chondrule isochrons, so that the Earth appears to have the Mn-Cr systematics of a refractory chondrule. Thus, the Earth apparently formed from material that had been depleted in Mn relative to Cr contemporaneously with condensation of chondrule precursors. If, as seems likely, the Earth's core formed after complete decay of 53Mn, there must have been little differential partitioning of Mn and Cr at that time.

C.-Y. Shih

Papers

Chronology and petrogenesis of young achondrites, Shergotty, Zagami, and ALHA77005 - Late magmatism on a geologically active planet

146Sm-142Nd formation interval for the lunar mantle

The Chronology of Asteroid Accretion, Differentiation, and Secondary Mineralization

Manganese-chromium formation intervals for chondrules from the Bishunpur and Chainpur meteorites

Ages of pristine noritic clasts from lunar breccias 15445 and 15455