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Crustal Heat Production and the Thermal Evolution of MarsThe chemical composition of soils and rocks from the Pathfinder site and Phobos-2 orbital gamma-ray spectroscopy indicate that the Martian crust has a bulk composition equivalent to large-ion lithophile (LIL) and heat-producing element (K, Th, U) enriched basalt, with a potassium content of about 0.5%. A variety of radiogenic isotope data also suggest that separation of LIL-enriched crust and depleted mantle reservoirs took place very early in Martian history (>4.0 Ga). Accordingly, if the enriched Martian crust is >30 km thick it is likely that a large fraction (up to at least 50%) of the heat-producing elements in Mars was transferred into the crust very early in the planet's history. This would greatly diminish the possibility of early widespread melting of the Martian mantle.
Document ID
20020020648
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
McLennan, Scott M.
(State Univ. of New York Stony Brook, NY United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 28
Issue: 21
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
Paper-2001GL01343
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-8169
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-10583
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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