Geochemical constraints on the seismic properties of the lunar mantle

Details Geochemical constraints on the seismic properties of the lunar mantle Geochemical constraints on the seismic properties of the lunar mantle

Dec 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002pepi..134..175k&link_type=abstract

Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Volume 134, Issue 3-4, p. 175-189.

Physics

15

Scientific paper

Thermodynamic modeling of phase relations and physical properties in the Na2O-TiO2-CaO-FeO-MgO-Al2O3- SiO2-Fe-FeS system and a Monte-Carlo inversion procedure have been used to calculate the density and velocity distribution in the mantle, and core radii of the Moon from the mass and moment of inertia constraints from recent Lunar Prospector gravity measurements. For the computation of the phase diagram for a given chemical composition, we have used a method of minimization of the total Gibbs free energy and self-consistent thermodynamic data for minerals and solid solutions. For the crustal thickness and density of 60km and 3.0gcm-3, the largest core radii are estimated to be 530km for an FeS (troilite)-core (4.1% of total mass), 490km for a eutectic Fe-FeS-core (3.4%), 445km for an Fe-10wt.% S-core (2.9%), and 350km for an Fe-core (2%). The existence of an Fe-FeS-core of intermediate radius of 250-400km is compatible with recent lunar core information and lend support to a chemically stratified lunar mantle. The sensitivity of density and seismic velocities to temperature, pressure and composition variations is examined. The modeling results indicate that we can determine the permissible density and velocity ranges in the zoned lunar mantle with confidence. The maximum and minimum density changes at depths of the lunar mantle, consistent with geochemical constraints and mass and moment of inertia requirements, are found to be: 3.22gcm-3<=ρ<=3.44gcm-3 at depths of 60-500km and 3.34gcm-3<=ρ<=3.52gcm-3 at depths between 500km and the core mantle boundary. Core-free models of the Moon are possible only if the lower mantle densities are between 3.49 and 3.52gcm-3 (20wt.%

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