Investigating the igneous petrogenesis of Martian volcanic rocks using augite quantitative textural analysis of the Yamato nakhlites

Griffin, S. , Udry, A., Daly, L. , Forman, L. V., Lee, M. R. and Cohen, B. E. (2023) Investigating the igneous petrogenesis of Martian volcanic rocks using augite quantitative textural analysis of the Yamato nakhlites. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 58(1), pp. 63-84. (doi: 10.1111/maps.13934)

Abstract

To better understand volcanism on planetary bodies other than the Earth, the quantification of physical processes is needed. Here, the petrogenesis of the achondrite Martian Yamato (Y) nakhlites (Y 000593, Y 000749, and Y 000802) is reinvestigated via quantitative analysis of augite (high-Ca clinopyroxene) phenocrysts: crystal size distribution (CSD), spatial distribution patterns (SDP), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Results from CSD and EBSD quantitative data sets show augite to have continuous uninterrupted growth resulting in calculated minimum magma chamber residence times of either 88–117 ± 6 yr or 9–12 yr. All samples exhibit low-intensity S-LS type crystallographic preferred orientation. Directional strain is observed across all samples with intracrystalline misorientation patterns indicative of (100)[001]:(001)[100] (Y 000593 and Y 000802) and {110}<001>or {110}1/2<110> (Y 000749) slip systems. SDP results indicate phenocryst-bearing crystal-clustered rock signatures. Combined findings from this work show that the Yamato nakhlites formed on Mars as individual low-viscosity lava flows or sills. This study shows that through combining these different quantitative techniques over multiple samples, one can more effectively compare and interpret resulting data to gain a more robust, geologically contextualized petrogenetic understanding of the rock suite being studied. The techniques used in this study should be equally applicable to igneous achondrites from other parent bodies.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Daly, Dr Luke and Griffin, Dr Sammy and Cohen, Dr Benjamin and Lee, Professor Martin
• Authors: Griffin, S., Udry, A., Daly, L., Forman, L. V., Lee, M. R., and Cohen, B. E.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences > Earth Sciences; College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Meteoritics and Planetary Science
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1086-9379
• ISSN (Online): 1945-5100
• Published Online: 11 December 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Meteoritics and Planetary Science 58(1): 63-84
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
190265		Follow the water: insights into the martian hydrosphere from nakhlites	Martin Lee	Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)	ST/H002960/1	GES - Earth Sciences