Mercury: Current and Future Science 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2047) 6034.pdf

AUBRITE AND IMPACT MELT : ANALOGS TO MERCURY? Z. E. Wilbur1,2, A. Udry1, F. M. McCubbin3, K. E. Vander Kaaden2,, R. R. Rahib1, and T. J. McCoy4. 1 Depart- ment of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA ([email protected]), 2Jacobs, NASA Johnson Space Center, Mail Code XI3, Houston, TX 77058, 3ARES, NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Hou- ston, TX 77058, 4Natural Museum of History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA.

Introduction: New data obtained during the Impact Melts: These meteorites MESSENGER mission has allowed us to better con- are composed of FeO-poor enstatite, interstitial plagio- train the composition and mineralogy of the mercurian clase, metal, graphite, and exotic sulfides. Wilbur et al. surface [e.g., 1-3]. One unique feature of Mercury is its [13] show that these samples contain Ti-bearing extremely low oxygen fugacity (ƒO2) (Iron Wustite , , possibly indicating an EH parent (IW) -7.3 to IW-2.6) [4–6]. At such extreme condi- body origin; Mn-bearing daubréelite, Mg-bearing old- tions, elements that exhibit lithophile behavior on Earth hamite, caswellsilverite, and present with- can exhibit chalcophile or siderophile behavior, leading in Si-bearing Fe, Ni . to the formation of exotic sulfides and metals [5,7–9]. Implications for Mercurian Mineralogy: The As no samples have been returned from Mercury, it mineralogy of the mercurian surface is complex [1–13], is critical to study analogs to better under- and MESSENGER data and meteorite analogs will stand the formation conditions of the minerals present help us better understand elemental partitioning at ex- at the mercurian surface, as well as mercurian magmat- tremely reducing conditions. The aubrites and enstatite chondrite impact melts in this study contain similar ic processes. Given the low fO2 on Mercury, we have selected to investigate potential meteoritic analogs for sulfide mineralogies inferred to be on the mercurian Mercury among the most reduced meteorite types, in- surface (FeS, MgS, and CaS) [5,12]. However, the cluding the aubrites and enstatite chondrite impact meteorite samples have a lower sulfide vol.% com- melts. The aubrites are differentiated meteorites that pared to most mercurian terrains (1.23–6.3% normative show varying degrees of brecciation, have a similar sulfides) [5,12]. The enstatite chondrite impact melts ƒO2 to the mercurian surface and interior, and contain have higher abundances of albitic plagioclase than au- exotic sulfides that have been inferred to be present on brites and higher abundances of Na2O than aubrites, the mercurian surface [13–15]. The enstatite chondrite which may make them a better match for a mercurian impact melts are from undifferentiated parent bodies, analog than aubrites. Conclusions: Neither the aubrite meteorites nor have a similar ƒO2 to the mercurian surface and interi- or, and contain exotic sulfides that have been inferred impact melts from enstatite represent perfect analogs for mercurian rocks; however, both provide to be present on the mercurian surface [13–15]. valuable insights into the distribution and geochemical In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis behavior of natural systems under highly reducing con- of a representative suite of aubrites and enstatite chon- ditions. The bulk compositions of the enstatite chon- drite impact melts and assess their relevance to under- drite impact melts are a better match to the mercurian standing magmatic processes on Mercury. Samples: We have gathered 14 aubrites: Allan surface than aubrites [15–18]. However, unlike Mercu- Hills (ALH) 78113, ALH 84007, Bishopville, Cumber- ry, the enstatite chondrite impact melts are from undif- land Falls, Khor Temiki, LaPaz Icefield (LAP) 02233, ferentiated parent bodies. Larkman Nunatak (LAR) 04316, Miller Range (MIL) References: [1] Nittler et al. (2011) Science, 333, 1847- 07008, MIL 13004, Mount Egerton, Northwest Africa 1850. [2] Evans et al. (2012) JGR, 117, E00L07. [3] Starr et (NWA) 9396, Norton County, Peña Blanca Spring, and al. (2012) JGR, 117, E12. [4] McCubbin et al. (2012) GRL, 39, Shallowater; and 4 enstatite chondrite impact melts L09202. [5] McCubbin et al. (2017) JGR, 122,. [6] Zolotov et (NWA 4799, NWA 7214, NWA 7809 and NWA al. (2013) JGR, 118, 138-146. [7] Weider et al. (2012) JGR 117, 11071). E00L05. [8] Charlier et al. (2013) EPSL, 363, 50-60. [9] Vander Preliminary results: Kaaden & McCubbin (2016) GCA, 83, 272-291. [10] Peplowski Aubrites: The aubrites are composed of FeO-poor et al. (2014) Icarus, 228, 86-95. [11] Namur & Charlier (2017) enstatite, forsterite, diopside, plagioclase, metal, and Nat. Geo., 10, 9-13. [12] Vander Kaaden et al. (2017) Icarus, exotic sulfides. Miller Range 13004, Bishopville, 285, 155-168. [13] Wilbur et al. (2018) LPS XLIX, Abstract Cumberland Falls, and Mount Egerton contain Ti- #1355 [14] Keil (2010) Chem. Erde, 70, 295-317. [15] Rubin bearing troilite, Mg-bearing daubréelite, Mn-bearing (2015) Chem. Erde, 75, 1-28. [16] McCoy et al (1995) GCA, 59, , ferroan alabandite, schreibersite and perry- 161–175. [17] Wasson et al. (1994) , 29, 658-662. ite within Si-bearing Fe, Ni kamacite, caswellsilverite, [18] Lodders and Fegley (1998) Planetary Scientists companion. brezinaite, and djerfisherite.