Mare basalt petrogenesis in a dynamic moon

Abstract

An hypothesis for mare basalt petrogenesis is presented. In the proposed model, both high- and low-Ti mare basalts are produced by partial melting and hybridization at depth accompanied by equilibrium between the hybrid liquids and the local olivine-pyroxenite residuum. The energy source for mare basalt formation is ultimately provided by radiogenic heating in the primordial lunar interior. The proposed dynamic model explains similarities in the Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratios and Cr2O3 contents of high-Ti and low-Ti basalts and avoids thermal problems inherent in previous models.