The effect of melt composition in synthetic lunar silicate melts on the behavior of trace elements during lunar magma ocean fractionation

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Raúl Fonseca
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273700848

The partitioning of trace elements between crystals and melts is considered to be dependent of variables such as temperature, pressure, oxygen fugacity and crystal/melt composition. Petrogenetic models for the generation of lunar mare basalts need precise knowledge of the fractionation of major and trace element between mineral phases and lunar melts during partial melting and crystallisation processes. Therefore, our proposed project aims to study the partitioning behaviour of trace elements (HFSE) between crystals (e.g. clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, olivine, garnet, and spinel) and synthetic lunar silicate melts for a wide range of melt compositions that cover the TiO2 contents of typical lunar melts. In our experiments, we will systematically study the effects of different pressures, temperatures, and oxygen fugacities. Our new data will help understand and model the petrogenetic evolution of the Moon and thus increase our general understanding of the evolution of terrestrial planets in our solar system

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Australia
• Cooperation Partners: Guilherme Mallmann, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Carsten Münker; Dr. Peter Sprung