A model of early lunar differentiation

摘要: The presence of anorthosites and the scarcity complementary mafic rocks in lunar crust suggest a body melt with depth order itself (about 60 km). This is consistent geophysical geochemical models which call for melting 200-500 km. major minor element compositions ancient pristine require complex igneous processes if moon accreted homogeneously has chondritic interelement ratios among refractory elements. Anorthosites crystallized from magmas that had assimilated plagioclase light REE-enriched component. KREEP as well most troctolites norites formed relatively primitive were mixed LIL-enriched, Sc-Ti depleted Assimilation mixing inferred are crystallization convecting magma ocean initially developed floating anorthosite plagioclase-saturated boundary layer beneath it, transitional temperature composition to main it.