Lead isotopic evidence for an old and rapid lunar magma ocean
Ya-Wen Zhang1, Si-Zhang Sheng1, Shui-Jiong Wang1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
Abstract:
The Moon's early history remains enigmatic, with intensive debate over the timing and duration of the lunar magma ocean (LMO) and its consequences on the early thermal and chemical evolution of the Moon. Here, we report a lead-lead isochron age of 4406.1 ± 3.2 million years ago (Ma) with an extraordinarily high initial lead (Pb) composition (HIP) for a lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 14729. The HIP at ~4406 Ma implies Pb isotopic evolution from an early-formed, high-μ (238U/204Pb > 5000) reservoir that is genetically linked to the last remaining liquid of the LMO called urKREEP. This requires that lunar primordial differentiation was completed within approximately 150 million years (Myr) after the Solar System's formation.
Related Concept Videos
Gravitation
Global Climate Change
Tidal Forces
Gravity between Spherical Bodies
This assumption can be proved easily by showing that the expression for gravitational potential energy between a hollow sphere of mass (M) and a point mass (m) is the same as it would be for a pair of extended...
Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
Simple Harmonic Motion and Uniform Circular Motion
There is an easy way to produce simple harmonic motion by using uniform circular motion. For instance, consider a ball attached to a uniformly rotating...


