| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4679270 | Earth and Planetary Science Letters | 2009 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
Zircons from the Apollo 14 polymict breccias 14304, 14305, and 14321 crystallized from highly incompatible-trace-element enriched sources over an extended period of early lunar history from 4.4 to 4.0 Ga. These zircons contain the least radiogenic 176Hf/177Hf yet observed in lunar samples, consistent with their source magmas containing a component (KREEP) that evolved during chemical differentiation of a global lunar magma ocean. The initial 176Hf/177Hf isotopic compositions of the zircons as a function of their crystallization ages suggest separation of the KREEP source, and thus crystallization of the lunar magma ocean, by ~ 4.48 Ga to no later than 4.38 Ga.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth and Planetary Sciences (General)
Authors
Dianne J. Taylor, Kevin D. McKeegan, T. Mark Harrison,