Addressing Unresolved Questions About the Solar System with New Lunar Samples from the Apollo Missions

Gregory Brennecka | 20-ERD-001

Executive Summary

Chronologic investigations of newly identified samples from the Apollo lunar sample collection will be completed in order to constrain the age, origin, and evolution of the Moon. This research supports National Aeronautic and Space Administration missions as it will position Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to conduct forensic analyses of returned samples from Moon missions.

Publications, Presentations, and Patents

Borg, L. E., et al. 2020. "Isotopic Evidence for a Young Lunar Magma Ocean." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 525: 115706. LLNL-JRNL-785027

Brennecka, G. A., et al. 2020. "Astronomical Context of Solar System Formation from Molybdenum Isotopes in Meteorite Inclusions." Science 370 (6518). doi:10.1126/science.aaz8482. LLNL-JRNL-802017

Kruijer, T. S. et al. 2020a. "Onset of Magma Ocean Solidification on Mars Inferred from Mn-Cr Chronometry." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 542 (116315). doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116315. LLNL-JRNL-798577

——— 2020b. "The Great Isotopic Dichotomy of the Early Solar System." Nature Astronomy 4 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1038/s41550-019-0959-9. LLNL-JRNL-798366

Marks, N. E., et al. 2020. "Geochronology of an Apollo 16 Clast Provides Evidence for a Basin-Forming impact 4.3 Billion Years Ago." Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets 124: 2465–2481. doi:10.1029/2019JE005966. LLNL-JRNL-759299

Sio, C. K., et al. 2020. "The Timing of Lunar Solidification and Mantle Overturn Recorded in Ferroan Anorthosite 62237." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 538 (116219). doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116219. LLNL-JRNL-790599

Wimpenny, J., et al. 2020. "Experimental Determination of Zn Isotope Fractionation During Evaporative Loss at Extreme Temperatures." Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 259: 391–411. LLNL-JRNL-756623