G. A. Brennecka¹, L. E. Borg¹, M. Wadhwa²

¹Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA
²School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA

The recent witnessed fall of the meteorite Tissint represents the delivery of a pristine new sample from the surface of Mars. This meteorite provides an unprecedented opportunity to study a variety of aspects about the planet’s evolution. Using the Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotopic systems, we determined that Tissint, a depleted shergottite, has a crystallization age of 574 ± 20 Ma, an initial ε¹⁴³Nd = +42.2 ± 0.5, and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.700760 ± 11. These initial Nd and Sr isotopic compositions suggest that Tissint originated from a mantle source on Mars that is distinct from the source reservoirs of the other Martian meteorites. The known crystallization ages, geochemical characteristics, ejection ages, and ejection dynamics of Tissint and other similarly grouped Martian meteorites suggest that they are likely derived from a source crater up to approximately 90 km in diameter with an age of approximately 1 Ma that is located on terrain that is approximately 600 million years old.

Reference
Beck P et al. (in press) Insights into the Martian mantle: The age and isotopics of the meteorite fall Tissint. Meteoritics & Planetary Science
[doi:10.1111/maps.12258]
Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons

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