Modification of the Moon’s mantle by impacts preserved in the chemistry of rare lunar basalts

Description

For the last sixty years, our knowledge on the early history of the solar system has dramatically improved with the advent of space exploration. Nevertheless, many aspects of formation and chemical evolution of the solar system remain elusive, in particular, the involvement of large meteorite bombardment in these processes. Not only might large impacts have changed the shape of the surface of the telluric planets (large celestial objects made of rocks and metals that are the inner planets of the solar system and their moons, large asteroids like Vesta and some large moons of giant planets) but they could also have changed the chemistry of their mantle after its final formation.

The purpose of this project is to investigate whether large impacts could have changed the chemistry of the shallow mantle of the Moon, Mars and Vesta, for which we have rock samples. To achieve this goal, we aim to investigate the chemical characteristics of chemically rare and uncommon basalts from these objects. We will use innovative and cutting-edge geochronological and geochemical methods and world-class advanced instruments available in leading research institutes in Sweden (Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet) and in Europe.

Understanding how large impacts could have changed the chemistry of the mantles of the Moon, Mars and Vesta has strong implications for our current views about the formation of the celestial objects in the solar system, and specifically rocky planets. Indeed, impacts might have created chemical heterogeneity in the mantles of telluric planets that are not predicted by the current models of planet formation.

This project will contribute to improving our understanding of rocky planet formation in the solar system and potentially lead to a revision of the current models of their formation and evolution. Improving and expanding our knowledge about the geology of the Moon, Mars and Vesta has a broad impact on our society well beyond the Planetary Science community.