Fe and Mg Isotope compositions Indicate a Hybrid Mantle Source for Young Chang'E 5 Mare Basalts

Jiang Y.; Kang J. T.; Liao S. Y.; Elardo S. M.; Zong K. Q.; Wang S. J.; Nie C.; Li P. Y.; Yin Z. J.; Huang F.; Hsu W. B

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/acbd31

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arXiv · 2302.10507

Fe and Mg Isotope compositions Indicate a Hybrid Mantle Source for Young Chang'E 5 Mare Basalts

Jiang Y.·Kang J. T.·Liao S. Y.·Elardo S. M.·Zong K. Q.·Wang S. J.·Nie C.·Li P. Y.·Yin Z. J.·Huang F.·Hsu W. B

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Abstract

The Chang'E 5 (CE-5) samples represent the youngest mare basalt ever known and provide an access into the late lunar evolution. Recent studies have revealed that CE-5 basalts are the most evolved lunar basalt, yet controversy remains over the nature of their mantle sources. Here we combine Fe and Mg isotope analyses with a comprehensive study of petrology and mineralogy on two CE-5 basalt clasts. These two clasts have a very low Mg# (~29) and show similar Mg isotope compositions with Apollo low-Ti mare basalts as well as intermediate TiO2 and Fe isotope compositions between low-Ti and high-Ti mare basalts. Fractional crystallization or evaporation during impact cannot produce such geochemical signatures which otherwise indicate a hybrid mantle source that incorporates both early- and late-stage lunar magma ocean (LMO) cumulates. Such a hybrid mantle source would be also compatible with the KREEP-like REE pattern of CE-5 basalts. Overall, our new Fe-Mg isotope data highlight the role of late LMO cumulate for the generation of young lunar volcanism.

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Jiang Y., Kang J. T., Liao S. Y., Elardo S. M., Zong K. Q., Wang S. J., Nie C., Li P. Y., Yin Z. J., Huang F., Hsu W. B. 2023-02-21. Fe and Mg Isotope compositions Indicate a Hybrid Mantle Source for Young Chang'E 5 Mare Basalts. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213%2Facbd31

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