Animation showing the cross-section of the Lunar Magma Ocean as it crystallizes over time. The first solids to form (e.g., olivine) are denser than the surrounding magma, thus sink towards the interior. After about 80% of the Lunar Magma Ocean has crystallized, less dense solids (i.e., plagioclase) begin to form and float towards the surface, forming the primordial crust of the Moon.
The Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO) is the layer of molten rock that is theorized to have been present on the surface of the Moon. The Lunar Magma Ocean was likely present on the Moon from the time of the Moon's formation (about 4.5 or 4.4 billion years ago[1]) to tens or hundreds of millions of years after that time. It is a thermodynamic consequence of the Moon's relatively rapid formation in the aftermath of a giant impact between the proto-Earth and another planetary body. As the Moon accreted from the debris from the giant impact, gravitational potential energy was converted to thermal energy. Due to the rapid accretion of the Moon (in about a month to a year),[2][3][4] thermal energy was trapped since it did not have sufficient time to thermally radiate away energy through the lunar surface. The subsequent thermochemical evolution of the Lunar Magma Ocean explains the Moon's largely anorthositic crust, europium anomaly, and KREEP material.
The Lunar Magma Ocean was initially proposed by two groups in 1970 after they analyzed anorthositic rock fragments found in the Apollo 11 sample collection.[5][6] Wood et al. used fragments of bulk sample 10085 for their analyses.[7] Ferroan anorthosite rocks found during the Apollo program are composed primarily (over 90%) of the mineral plagioclase.[8] More specifically, ferroan anorthosite rocks found on the Moon consist of the calcium (Ca) end-member of plagioclase (i.e., anorthite).[9] This suggests that at least upper layers of the Moon were molten in the past due to the purity of lunar anorthosites and the fact that anorthite generally has a high crystallization temperature.[10]
Lunar ferroan anorthosite rock from Apollo 16 (Sample 60025).
^Touboul, Mathieu; Kleine, Thorsten; Bourdon, Bernard; Palme, Herbert; Wieler, Rainer (February 2009). "Tungsten isotopes in ferroan anorthosites: Implications for the age of the Moon and lifetime of its magma ocean". Icarus. 199 (2): 245–249. Bibcode:2009Icar..199..245T. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.11.018. ISSN 0019-1035.
^Ida, Shigeru; Canup, Robin M.; Stewart, Glen R. (September 1997). "Lunar accretion from an impact-generated disk". Nature. 389 (6649): 353–357. Bibcode:1997Natur.389..353I. doi:10.1038/38669. ISSN 0028-0836. S2CID 19073356.
^Kokubo, E (December 2000). "Evolution of a Circumterrestrial Disk and Formation of a Single Moon". Icarus. 148 (2): 419–436. Bibcode:2000Icar..148..419K. doi:10.1006/icar.2000.6496.
^Takeda, Takaaki; Ida, Shigeru (2001-10-10). "Angular Momentum Transfer in a Protolunar Disk". The Astrophysical Journal. 560 (1): 514–533. arXiv:astro-ph/0108133. Bibcode:2001ApJ...560..514T. doi:10.1086/322406. ISSN 0004-637X. S2CID 119060440.
^Smith, J. V.; Anderson, A. T.; Newton, R. C.; Olsen, E. J.; Wyllie, P. J. (July 1970). "A Petrologic Model for the Moon Based on Petrogenesis, Experimental Petrology, and Physical Properties". The Journal of Geology. 78 (4): 381–405. Bibcode:1970JG.....78..381S. doi:10.1086/627537. ISSN 0022-1376. S2CID 129018519.
^Wood, J. A.; Dickey, J. S.; Marvin, U. B.; Powell, B. N. (1970-01-30). "Lunar Anorthosites". Science. 167 (3918): 602–604. Bibcode:1970Sci...167..602W. doi:10.1126/science.167.3918.602. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 17781512. S2CID 20153077.
^"PSRD: The Oldest Moon Rocks". www.psrd.hawaii.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-27.
^Dowty, Eric; Prinz, Martin; Keil, Klaus (November 1974). "Ferroan anorthosite: A widespread and distinctive lunar rock type". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 24 (1): 15–25. Bibcode:1974E&PSL..24...15D. doi:10.1016/0012-821x(74)90003-x. ISSN 0012-821X.
^Reynolds, Stephen J. (2015-01-12). Exploring geology. Shaw, Cynthia C. (Fourth ed.). New York, NY. p. 123. ISBN 9780078022920. OCLC 892304874.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
The LunarMagmaOcean (LMO) is the layer of molten rock that is theorized to have been present on the surface of the Moon. The LunarMagmaOcean was likely...
Magmaoceans are vast fields of surface magma that exist during periods of a planet's or some natural satellite's accretion when the celestial body is...
and mantle and accounts for the major suites of lunar rocks. As crystallization of the lunarmagmaocean proceeded, minerals such as olivine and pyroxene...
that the outer portion of the Moon was once completely molten (see lunarmagmaocean). Almost all the rocks show evidence of impact process effects. Many...
A moonbase (or lunar base) is a human outpost on or below the surface of the Moon. More than a mere site of activity or temporary camp, moonbases are...
and is inferred to represent plagioclase flotation cumulates of the lunarmagmaocean, with interstitial mafic phases formed from trapped interstitial melt...
and may represent plagioclase cumulates of the lunarmagmaocean. In contrast to Earth, no major lunar mountains are believed to have formed as a result...
anorthosite (MAN). Pristine lunar FAN is some of the oldest lunar rock and the original cumulate of the lunarmagmaocean, with the Mg-suite forming from...
appearance of the dark areas (known as lunar maria) and the lighter-colored highlands (and some lowlands) of the lunar surface. There are various explanations...
compound Living modified organism or genetically modified organism Lunarmagmaocean, layer of molten rock theorized to have been present on the surface...
excavate low albedo material, for example basaltic-lava deposits on the lunar maria. Thermal rays, as seen on Mars, are especially apparent at night when...
theorized Lunarmagmaocean. This theory is supported by studies of Lunar rocks and soil, which were more hydrated than expected. Studies of Lunar vulcanism...
portion of the Moon would have been liquified, and this formed a lunarmagmaocean. As the crystallization of this liquid rock proceeded, minerals such...
anorthositic in composition, consistent with the magmaocean hypothesis. In terms of elements, the lunar crust is composed primarily of oxygen, silicon...
for High-Titanium LunarMagmas". Planetary Science Research Discoveries. G. Jeffrey Taylor (June 23, 2000). "The Surprising Lunar Maria". Planetary Science...
brightness". The intensity of moonlight varies greatly depending on the lunar phase, but even the full moon typically provides only about 0.05–0.1 lux...
A grazing lunar occultation (also lunar grazing occultation, lunar graze, or just graze) is a lunar occultation in which as the occulted star disappears...
exceptionally rare on the Moon. Lunar pyroclastic deposits are the result of lava fountain eruptions from volatile-laden basaltic magmas rapidly ascending from...
the Moon. The length of Earth's day would increase and the length of a lunar month would also increase. Earth's sidereal day would eventually have the...
"Intrinsic conditions of magma genesis at the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field (Nevada), and implications for internal plumbing and magma ascent" (PDF). American...
T. M.; Young, E. D. (1 June 2009). "Early differentiation of the lunarmagmaocean . New Lu-Hf isotope results from Apollo 17". Geochimica et Cosmochimica...
procellārum, lit. 'Ocean of Storms') is a vast lunar mare on the western edge of the near side of the Moon. It is the only one of the lunar maria to be called...
however, are opposite; when the terrestrial observer sees the full Moon, the lunar observer sees a "new Earth", and vice versa. Earth's albedo is three times...
(Eu3+) in an oxidizing magma, it is preferentially incorporated into plagioclase in its divalent form (Eu2+) in a reducing magma, where it substitutes...
the Moon Geology of the Moon Lunar soil Lunar water Gravitation of the Moon Internal structure of the Moon Lunar swirls Lunar water Magnetic field of the...
called atmospheric escape. During planetary formation, Earth possibly had magmaoceans. Subsequently, outgassing, volcanic activity and meteorite impacts, produced...
A magmaocean is thought to be present on Io. Geysers or fumaroles have been found on Saturn's moon Enceladus, possibly originating from an ocean about...
A wrinkle ridge is a type of feature commonly found on lunar maria, or basalt plains. These features are low, sinuous ridges formed on the mare surface...
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