Petrogenesis of Lunar Highlands Meteorites: Dhofar 025, Dhofar 081, Dar Al Gani 262, and Dar Al Gani 400
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University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 5-2003 Petrogenesis of lunar highlands meteorites: Dhofar 025, Dhofar 081, Dar al Gani 262, and Dar al Gani 400 Joshua Timothy Cahill Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Recommended Citation Cahill, Joshua Timothy, "Petrogenesis of lunar highlands meteorites: Dhofar 025, Dhofar 081, Dar al Gani 262, and Dar al Gani 400. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2003. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/5200 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Joshua Timothy Cahill entitled "Petrogenesis of lunar highlands meteorites: Dhofar 025, Dhofar 081, Dar al Gani 262, and Dar al Gani 400." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Geology. Larry Taylor, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by Joshua Timothy Cahill entitled "Petrogenesis of Lunar Highlands Meteorites: Dhofar025, Dhofar081, Dar al Gani 262, and Dar al Gani 400." I have examined the finalpaper copy of this thesis for formand content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Geology. We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: Dr. Dan Britt Acceptance for the Council: PETROGENESIS OF LUNAR HIGHLANDS METEORITES: DHOFAR 025, DHOFAR 081, DAR AL GANI 262, AND DAR AL GANI 400 A Thesis Presented forthe Masters of Science Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Joshua Timothy Cahill May2003 DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my parents, Tim Cahill and Judy Cahill, who taught me to never give up, always finishwhat I start, and to always reach forthe stars. To my younger brother, Adam Cahill, who taught me how to be a champion when he sat up in the hospital bed to talk to a caring young fan and pupil, without showing the child the pain he was in. Shortly thereafter,Adam also taught me the meaning of passion when he arose fromthe hospital bed, despite numerous injuries and opposition fromthose who doubted his determination, to fulfillhis life-longdream by attending classes at the University of Notre Dame. To my younger sister, Alison Cahill, from whom I expect great things no matter what path she decides to take in life. And finally,to all other familymembers who have been relentless in their generous support of my dreams and goals. My families' cumulative passions, work ethics, and competitiveness have made me what I am today, and will continue to mold me in the future. 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank all those who have supported my studies at the University of Tennessee. I would like to express my appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Larry Taylor, for the many opportunities he has given me, and to his amazing wife, Dawn Taylor. I would like to thank Dr. Christine Floss of Washington University, St. Louis, for her exceptional knowledge of the ion-microprobe and unwavering patience when answering my many questions. Thanks to Misha Nazarov, forhis candid reviews and touches of humor. Thanks to Dr. Harry McSween, Jr. and Dr. Dan Britt foraccepting positions on my committee. Thanks to both Dr. MaheshAnand and Dr. Barbara Cohen fortheir patience, · advice, and direction on numerous occasions. I would like to express my appreciation to Allan Patchen, forhis he]p with the electron-microprobe analyses. My sincere thanksto Dr. Robert Clayton and Dr. Tosh Mayeda for sharing oxygen isotope data. I am also gratefulto the Vemadsky Institute, the Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, and the Institute forPlanetology, Munster, fortheir willingness to supply the samples necessary for this study. A special thanks to the Joint United States/ Russia Research in Space Sciences (JURRISS) Program (NAG 5-8726 to L.A.T.) sponsored by NASA. Portions of this research have also been supported by NASA grants to L.A.T. (NAGS-11158) and C.F. (NAGS-9801; PI: R. Walker), and a Russian Academy of Science Award to M.A.N. (02-05-64981 to R.F.B.R.). 111 And finally, thank you to all the students of the University of Tennessee Geology Department. Most especially to Keith Milam, KarenStockstill, Kathy Stone, Pin Promprated, Renee Wiesli, Cara Thompson, and Mike DeAngelis. Without their enthusiasm for geology and life this effortwould not have been possible. I hope we work together again in the future. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS CHPATER PAGE 1. Overview of Master's Degree ...................................... ;............. 1 2. Abstract............................................................................. 6. 2.1 Introduction......................................................................... 8 2.2 Analytical Techniques............................................................ 8 2.3 Petrographyand Mineral Chemistry............................................ 10 2.4 Evidence forLunar Origin....................................................... 18 2.4.1 Fe-Mn Ratios.............................................................. 18 2.4.2 Oxygen Isotopes.......................................................... 19 2.5 Whole-Rock Compositions....................................................... 22 2.6 Trace-Element Distributions in Individual Clasts and Minerals ..· ........... 32 · 2.6.1 "Bulk" Clast Inventory................................................... 33 2.6.2 Compositional Mixing Model........................................... 35 2.6.3 Plagioclase Inventory..................................................... 35 2.6.4 Pyroxene Inventory....................................................... 39 2.6.5 Olivine Inventory......................................................... 43 2.6.6 Plagioclase-Pyroxene REE Ratios...................................... 43 2.7 Discussion.......................................................................... 49 2.7.1 Distribution coefficients................................................. 49 2. 7.2 Subsolidus Re-equilibration............................................. 50 2.7.3 Impact processes.......................................................... 52 V 2.7.4 Lunar Provenance......................................................... 53 2. 8 Summary.......................... .... ........................................... ...... 54 3. Future Work......................................................................... 56 List of References.................................................................. 57 Appendices.......................................................................... 70 Appendix 1: Electron-Microprobe Data............................... 71 Appendix 2: Ion-Microprobe Data ..................................... 94 Vita .................................. ............................. ; .................... 108 VI LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Whole-rock composition ofDh-025, Dh-081, DaG 262, DaG 400, and other lunar highland meteorites .................................................................. 24 2. Percentage influenceof an average HMS REE composition on Dhofar and DaG FAN clasts ........................................................................... 36 3. REE mineral/melt distribution coefficients.................................. .... 48 A 1-1. Summary of petrographic classificationsand mineral compositions of Dh-025 and Dh-081 clasts........................................................................ 72 Al-2a. Dh-025 plagioclase analyses by clast.. .......................................... 75 Al-2b. Dh-025 orthopyroxene analyses by clast.. ...................................... 79 Al-2c. Dh-025 pigeonite analyses by clast.......................................... ..... 80 Al-2d. Dh-025 augite analyses by clast............................................. ..... 82 Al-2e. Dh-025 olivine analyses by clast.............................................. ... 84 Al-3a. Dh-081 plagioclase analyses by clast........................................ .... 88 Al-3b. Dh-081 pyroxene analyses by clast.. ............................................ 91 Al-3c. Dh-081 olivine analyses by clast.................................................. 92 A2-1. Bulk major-, minor-, trace-, and REE concentrations (ppm) for lunar meteorite clasts .................................................................................. 95 A2-2. Major-, minor-, trace-, and REE concentrations (ppm) of Dh-025 lunar-highlands plagioclase....... _.................................................................... 101 Vll A2-3. Major-, minor-, trace-, and REE concentrations (ppm) of Dh-025, Dh-081, DaG 262, and DaG 400 pyroxene and olivine......................................... 105 Vlll LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Backscattered electron images of lunar �eteorite Dh-025 .................. 12 2. Pyroxene and olivine major-element