Mathematics – Probability
Scientific paper
Aug 1987
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987sci...237..738v&link_type=abstract
Science (ISSN 0036-8075), vol. 237, Aug. 14, 1987, p. 738-743.
Mathematics
Probability
52
Mars (Planet), Meteorite Craters, Meteoritic Composition, Mineralogy, Planetary Geology, Cosmic Rays, Particle Size Distribution, Planetary Evolution, Spallation
Scientific paper
A large body of evidence strongly suggests that the shergottite, nakhlite, and Chassigny (SNC) meteorites are from Mars. Various mechanisms for the ejection of large rocks at Martian escape velocity (5 km/sec) have been investigated, but none has proved wholly satisfactory. This article examines a number of possible ejection and cosmic-ray exposure histories to determine which is most plausible. For each possible history, the Melosh (1984, 1985, 1987) spallation model is used to estimate the size of the crater required to produce ejecta fragments of the required size with velocities not less than 5 km/sec and to produce a total mass of solid ejecta consistent with the observed mass flux of SNC meteorites. Estimates of crater production rates on Mars are then used to evaluate the probability that sufficiently large craters have formed during the available time. The results indicate that the SNC meteorites were probably ejected from a very large crater (greater than 100 kilometers in diameter) about 200 million years ago, and that cosmic-ray exposure of the recovered meteorites was initiated after collisional fragmentation of the original ejecta in space at much later times (0.5 to 10 million years ago).
Melosh Henry Jay
Vickery Ann M.
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