Experimental determination of the spinel-garnet boundary in a Martian mantle compositionThe high pressure reaction orthopyroxene + clinopyroxene + spinel to garnet + olivine is applicable to the mantle of Mars. Experimental reversals of this reaction in the system CaO-MgO-FeO-Al2O3-SiO2 have been made in the range 1000-1200 C using the bulk composition proposed by Morgan and Anders (1980). At 1000 C, 1100 C, and 1200 C the garnet-out equilibrium is bracketed at 10.8 + or - 0.5, 12.6 + or - 0.5, and 15.2 + or - 0.5 kbars, respectively. A dP/dT slope of 14.0 bar/K at 1000 C increasing to 26.0 bar/K at 1200 C has been inferred. Depending on bulk composition, the mantle of Mars is inferred to have a phase assemblage of either olivine + clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene + garnet or olivine + clinopyroxene + garnet + spinel. In the second, the partial melts will not be buffered by olivine and orthopyroxene and will have markedly lower silica activities than those of the terrestrial mantle.
Document ID
19830034112
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Patera, E. S.
Holloway, J. R. (Arizona State University Tempe, AZ, United States)