Origin of the depletion of volatile metals in lunar rocks (B01)

• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 263649064

The Moon is assumed to be strongly depleted in moderately volatile elements such as Zn or K, which has been attributed to volatile loss during the formation of the Moon or extensive degassing during its magma ocean stage. However, the roles of volatile metal loss during late magmatic degassing, and degassing of highland rocks during large impacts remain poorly constrained. If these processes are important, then the Moon might be less depleted in these volatiles. This issue will be addressed by systematic studies of mare basalts and lunar highland rocks using volatile element abundances coupled with mass-dependent stable isotope variations of the volatile elements Zn, Cu, K and S.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 170: Late Accretion onto Terrestrial Planets
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Harry Becker