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SNC meteorites - Clues to Martian petrologic evolution?Shergottites, nakhlites and the Chassigny meteorites (SNC group) may have originated on Mars. The shergottites are medium-grained basalts, the nakhlites are pyroxenites and the Chassigny is a dunite. The SNC group is petrologically diverse but differs from all other known achondrites in terms of mineral chemistry, the redox state, the oxygen isotopic composition and the radiometric ages. The SNC stones are mafic and ultramafic cumulate rocks with mineralogies that indicate rapid cooling and crystallization from tholeiitic magmas which contained water and experienced a high degree of oxidation. The characteristics suggest formation from a large parent body, i.e., a planet, but not earth. The estimated ages for the rocks match the estimated ages for several mapped Martian volcanoes in the Tharsis region. Additionally, the elemental and isotopic abundances of atmospheric gases embedded in melts in the SNC stones match Viking Lander data for the Martian atmosphere. However, reasons are cited for discounting the possibility that a large meteorite(s) collided with Mars about 180 myr ago and served as the mechanism for ejecting the SNC stones to earth.
Document ID
19860034312
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Mcsween, H. Y., Jr.
(Tennessee, University Knoxville, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: Reviews of Geophysics
Volume: 23
ISSN: 8755-1209
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
86A19050
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG9-58
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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