Journal Article

Mantle Melting Conditions of Mare Lavas on South Pole–Aitken Basin of Lunar Farside

Jin, Ziliang, Namur, Olivier, Peng, Ye, Dasgupta, Rajdeep, Ji, Dian, Charlier, Bernard, Chen, Jian, Zhang, Yishen, Lee, Cin‐Ty

2025

Overview

The understanding of thermal evolution and magmatic history of the Moon has so far been informed by studies of rock samples from the nearside. However, the recently completed Chang'E‐6 mission by China National Space Administration has returned the first samples from the lunar farside, providing a unique opportunity to refine our understanding of the Moon's history. To provide context for future research on these returned samples, we use remote sensing data and geochemical modeling to infer temperature and pressure conditions of the lunar mantle that could generate the surface lavas in Apollo basin on the lunar farside. The estimated melt‐mantle equilibration conditions cover a temperature range from 1,170°C to 1,430°C and a pressure range from 0.3 to 1.7 GPa, requiring mantle potential temperatures of 1,220°C–1430°C. The mantle melting conditions on farside are cooler and shallower than those on the nearside mantle, if the mantle compositions are similar. Plain Language Summary The recently completed Chang'E‐6 mission by China collected the first samples from the lunar farside. To supplement the anticipated findings from these samples, here we use surface lava compositions measured using remote sensing techniques combined with geochemical modeling to estimate the pressure and temperature conditions of generation of farside basaltic melts. We estimate the mantle melting conditions as temperature range from 1,170°C to 1,430°C and a pressure range from 0.3 to 1.7 GPa. This corresponds to mantle melting temperatures of 1,220°C–1,430°C, which are cooler and shallower compared to those for the lunar nearside mantle, if similar mantle composition is assumed. Key Points Remote sensing data of the South Pole–Aitken basin are utilized to estimate lunar mantle‐derived primitive melt compositions Calculations of multiple saturation of primary melts with mantle minerals reveal partial melting conditions in the lunar farside mantle The partial melting conditions on the lunar farside is cooler and shallower if the mantle composition is similar to that of the nearside

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Chinese space program / Chinese spacecraft / Composition / Earth and Planetary Sciences (all) / Earth sciences & physical geography / Geochemistry / Geophysics / History / Lava / Lunar exploration / lunar farside / Lunar mantle / mantle melting / mare basalt / Melting / Melting conditions / Modelling / Moon / Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences / Physique, chimie, mathématiques & sciences de la terre / Potential temperature / Pressure / Remote sensing / Remote sensing data / Remote sensing techniques / Rock sample / Sciences de la terre & géographie physique / Sediment samples / Sensing techniques / South Pole / South Pole-Aitken / South Pole-Aitken basins / Space administration / Space missions / Temperature / Thermal evolution