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Silicon in Mars' Core: A Prediction Based on Mars Model Using Nitrogen and Oxygen Isotopes in SNC MeteoritesChemical and (oxygen) isotopic compositions of SNC meteorites have been used by a number of workers to infer the nature of precursor materials for the accretion of Mars. The idea that chondritic materials played a key role in the formation of Mars has been the central assumption in these works. Wanke and Dreibus have proposed a mixture of two types of chondritic materials, differing in oxygen fugacity but having CI type bulk chemical composition for the nonvolatile elements, for Mars' precursor. But a number of studies based on high pressure and temperature melting experiments do not favor a CI type bulk planet composition for Mars, as it predicts a bulk planet Fe/Si ratio much higher than that reported from the recent Pathfinder data. Oxygen forms the bulk of Mars (approximately 40% by wt.) and might provide clues to the type of materials that formed Mars. But models based on the oxygen isotopic compositions of SNC meteorites predict three different mixtures of precursor materials for Mars: 90% H + 10% CM, 85% H + 11% CV + 4% CI and 45% EH + 55% H. As each of these models has been shown to be consistent with the bulk geophysical properties (such as mean density, and moment of inertia factor) of Mars, the nature of the material that accreted to form Mars remains ambiguous.
Document ID
20020090126
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Mohapatra, R. K.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Chemie Mainz, Germany)
Murty, S. V. S.
(Physical Research Lab. Ahmedabad, India)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: Unmixing the SNCs: Chemical, Isotopic, and Petrologic Components of the Martian Meteorites
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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