Abstract
Dhofar 378 is a new basaltic shergottite, consisting mainly of pyroxenes, plagioclase glass, phosphates, titanomagnetite, and mesostasis. It is one of the most ferroan shergottites and resembles the Los Angeles shergottite. Pyroxenes show remarkable chemical zoning from 0.4 of Mg/(Mg+Fe) to less than 0.1, and their REE patterns are depleted in light REE whereas the REE pattern of the bulk Dhofar 378 is flat. All plagioclase grains in the original lithology completely melted by an intense impact shock, and the plagioclase melts crystallized fibrous plagioclase to form the rims surrounding the plagioclase melts. Then, the melts quenched as plagioclase glass to form the cores. The shock stage of Dhofar 378 is higher than that of the Los Angeles shergottite. The degree of impact shock for Dhofar 378 may be about 55-75 GPa and is the highest among all known martian meteorites.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 20-44 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Antarctic Meteorite Research |
| Issue number | 19 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 Oct |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Basaltic shergottites
- Differentiated magmas
- Intense impact shock
- Martian meteorites
- Plagioclase glass
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geology
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Space and Planetary Science