Impact-related crystallization and modification of small zircons in Apollo 15 and 16 impactites at 4.2 Ga

Vanderliek, Dennis; Becker, Harry; Rocholl, Alexander

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117216

Cited by 3 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…Concordant analyses in zircon yield a mean concordia age of 4201 ± 11 Ma, whereas all analyses combined yield a weighted average of 4191 ± 4 Ma. A previous study by Crow et al (2017) Vanderliek et al (2021a); however, some baddeleyites could be slightly older, up to 4.27 Ga (Vanderliek et al 2021b). In contrast, 207 Pb/ 206 Pb ages of phosphates in 15455 tend to scatter near 3.92 Ga, the likely age of the Imbrium impact (Nemchin et al 2021;Vanderliek et al 2021b).…”

Section: Apollo 15 Landing Site; Dimict Breccia 15455mentioning

confidence: 76%

“…1A, B). Based on seven zircon aggregates analyzed by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in Sections 15455,27 and ,29 (11 analyses), the spread of 207 Pb/ 206 Pb ages is ranging from 4210 to 4154 Ma, with most of the U-Pb data on zircon being concordant and a few analyses reverse discordant (Vanderliek et al 2021a). Concordant analyses in zircon yield a mean concordia age of 4201 ± 11 Ma, whereas all analyses combined yield a weighted average of 4191 ± 4 Ma.…”

Section: Apollo 15 Landing Site; Dimict Breccia 15455mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even though many U-Pb and Pb/Pb geochronological studies were dedicated to zircons from lunar impactites (Bellucci et al 2016;Crow et al 2017;Grange et al 2009;2013b;Nemchin et al 2012;Pidgeon et al 2007;Trail et al 2020;Vanderliek et al 2021a), only a few of them investigated the details of zircon deformation micro-structures (e.g., Crow et al 2019;Nemchin et al 2012;Timms et al 2012). Grange et al (2013b) emphasized the importance of recognition and understanding of secondary features in shocked lunar zircon grains especially for in situ age dating of deformed or recrystallized areas of the crystal lattice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here we present results of the study of eight lunar zircon grains from samples 15455 (Apollo 15), 67915 and 67955 (Apollo 16), combining focused ion beam (FIB) extraction of thin foils with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations, supplemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron microprobe (EMP) analysis. The purpose of this study is to describe a range of shock-related nano-structures to extend the limited database of lunar zircon textures and to facilitate the interpretation of the U-Pb data obtained on these zircons (e.g., Vanderliek et al 2021a). Since some U-Pb age data on zircons of samples 15455 and 67915 are reversely discordant (Vanderliek et al, 2021a), we evaluated whether the discordance may have been caused by the Pb mobilization in zircon (Kusiak et al 2013(Kusiak et al , 2015Piazolo et al 2016) or reflects an analytical artifact (e.g., White and Ireland 2012;Williams and Hergt 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The purpose of this study is to describe a range of shock-related nano-structures to extend the limited database of lunar zircon textures and to facilitate the interpretation of the U-Pb data obtained on these zircons (e.g., Vanderliek et al 2021a). Since some U-Pb age data on zircons of samples 15455 and 67915 are reversely discordant (Vanderliek et al, 2021a), we evaluated whether the discordance may have been caused by the Pb mobilization in zircon (Kusiak et al 2013(Kusiak et al , 2015Piazolo et al 2016) or reflects an analytical artifact (e.g., White and Ireland 2012;Williams and Hergt 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nano- and micro-structures in lunar zircon from Apollo 15 and 16 impactites: implications for age interpretations

Kusiak

Kovaleva

Vanderliek³

et al. 2022

Contrib Mineral Petrol

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Meteorite impact processes are ubiquitous on the surfaces of rocky and icy bodies in the Solar System, including the Moon. One of the most common accessory minerals, zircon, when shocked, produces specific micro-structures that may become indicative of the age and shock conditions of these impact processes. To better understand the shock mechanisms in zircon from Apollo 15 and 16 impact breccias, we applied transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and studied nano-structures in eight lunar zircons displaying four different morphologies from breccias 15455, 67915, and 67955. Our observations revealed a range of shock-related features in zircon: (1) planar and non-planar fractures, (2) “columnar” zircon rims around baddeleyite cores, (3) granular textured zircon, in most cases with sub-µm-size inclusions of monoclinic ZrO2 (baddeleyite) and cubic ZrO2 (zirconia), (4) silica-rich glass and metal inclusions of FeS and FeNi present at triple junctions in granular zircon and in baddeleyite, (5) inclusions of rutile in shocked baddeleyite, (6) amorphous domains, (7) recrystallized domains. In many grain aggregates, shock-related micro-structures overprint each other, indicating either different stages of a single impact process or multiple impact events. During shock, some zircons were transformed to diaplectic glass (6), and others (7) were completely decomposed into SiO2 and Zr-oxide, evident from the observed round shapes of cubic zirconia and silica-rich glass filling triple junctions of zircon granules. Despite the highly variable effect on textures and Zr phases, shock-related features show no correlation with relatively homogeneous U–Pb or 207Pb/206Pb ages of zircons. Either the shock events occurred very soon after the solidification or recrystallization of the different Zr phases, or the shock events were too brief to result in noticeable Pb loss during shock metamorphism.

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Section: Apollo 15 Landing Site; Dimict Breccia 15455mentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Apollo 15 Landing Site; Dimict Breccia 15455mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nano- and micro-structures in lunar zircon from Apollo 15 and 16 impactites: implications for age interpretations

Kusiak

Kovaleva

Vanderliek³

et al. 2022

Contrib Mineral Petrol

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Shock Metamorphism of Lunar Minerals

Zhu,

Yang,

et al. 2024

Space Sci Technol

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Impact events have played a crucial role in the formation and evolution of the Moon, as evidenced by the numerous of impact craters on its surface, indicating a long history spanning over 4 billion years characterized by numerous such occurrences. As the moon evolved, it is likely that the early impact craters formed by the bombardment event have subsequently been overlaid by later impacts. However, limited samples and research methods have hindered the discovery of evidence of impacts on the lunar surface. Therefore, this article gives an overview of the study of shock metamorphism in lunar minerals, some new progress in the past 2 decades is reviewed, and the implications of these new discoveries for the composition of the Moon’s crust, history of impact, and the Moon’s evolution are discussed. In addition, some of the issues and limitations that have arisen in the study of lunar shock metamorphism are also summarized. Given the difficulties in the studying of lunar high-pressure minerals and shock metamorphic microstructure using traditional optical microscope, we suggest that the latest nanomineralogical research methods, such as focused ion beam, electron backscatter diffraction, atom probe tomography, Raman spectroscopy, and 3-dimensional electron diffraction, are rational and essential to address the challenges associated with the research on lunar shock metamorphism.

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The Timeline of Early Lunar Bombardment Constrained by the Evolving Distributions of Differently Aged Melt

Liu,

Michael,

Wünnemann

2023

Planet. Sci. J.

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The timeline of the early lunar bombardment remains unclear. The bombardment rate as a function of time is commonly modeled by three types of shapes: tail-end, sawtooth, and terminal cataclysm. Differently aged melt records the occurrence time of impact events and thus is crucial for constraining the timeline of the early lunar bombardment. Based on a spatially resolved numerical model, we simulate the evolving distribution of differently aged melt with a long-term impact mixing, where different shapes of impact rate function are considered. We compare the outcome of melt age distribution from different scenarios with the actual data from the lunar meteorites and the returned samples. The results suggest that, if the present data are representative of the melt age distribution on the Moon, the shape of the impact rate function is more likely comparable to the tail-end over the sawtooth and the terminal cataclysm, with the terminal cataclysm being least likely. In addition, using state-of-the-art U–Pb dating techniques, more abundant ancient basin melt is likely to be found in returned samples.

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Impact-related crystallization and modification of small zircons in Apollo 15 and 16 impactites at 4.2 Ga

Cited by 3 publications

References 40 publications

Nano- and micro-structures in lunar zircon from Apollo 15 and 16 impactites: implications for age interpretations

Nano- and micro-structures in lunar zircon from Apollo 15 and 16 impactites: implications for age interpretations

Shock Metamorphism of Lunar Minerals

The Timeline of Early Lunar Bombardment Constrained by the Evolving Distributions of Differently Aged Melt

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