Aubrite and Impact Melt Enstatite Chondrite Meteorites as Potential Analogs to Mercury

Wilbur, Z E ; Udry, A ; Mccubbin, Francis M ; McCubbin, F M ; Combs, L M ; Rahib, R R ; McCoy, C ; McCoy, T J

关键词: ABUNDANCE;    CHONDRITES;    PLAGIOCLASE;    MERCURY SURFACE;    MERCURY (PLANET);    IRON;    MESSENGER (SPACECRAFT);    ROCKS;    METEORITES;    ENSTATITE;    OXYGEN;    GEOCHEMISTRY;    SULFIDES;   

RP-ID  :  JSC-E-DAA-TN52119

学科分类：天文学(综合)

美国|英语

来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

The MESSENGER (MErcury Sur-face, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) orbiter measured the Mercurian surface abundances of key rock-forming elements to help us better understand the planet's surface and bulk geochemistry. A major discovery is that the Mercurian surface and interior are characterized by an extremely low oxygen fugacity (ƒO2; Iron-Wüstite (IW) -7.3 to IW-2.6. This is supported by low Fe and high S abundances on the surface. This low ƒO2 causes a different elemental partioning from what is observed on Earth. Using surface composition, it was shown that the Mercurian surface mainly consists of normative plagioclase, pyroxene, olivine, and exotic sulfides, such as niningerite ((Mg,Mn, Fe)S) and oldhamite (CaS).