The lithology and composition of lunar mantle modified by ilmenite bearing cumulate: A thermodynamic model

Abstract

Due to their high density, the ilmenite-bearing cumulates (IBC) (with or without KREEP) formed during the late-stage lunar magma ocean solidification are thought to sink into the underlying lunar mantle and trigger lunar mantle overturn. Geophysical evidence implied that IBC may descend deep inside the Moon and remain as a partially molten layer at the core-mantle boundary (CMB). However, partial melting may have occurred on the mixed mantle cumulates during the sinking of IBC/KREEP and the silicate melt may be positively buoyant, thus preventing the IBC/KREEP layer from sinking to the CMB. Here, we perform thermodynamic simulation on the stability of lunar mantle cumulates at different depths mixed with different amounts of IBC/KREEP from an updated LMO model. The modeling results suggest that the sinking of IBC/KREEP will cause at least 5 wt% partial melting in the shallow (~ 120 km) and a much larger degree of partial melting in the deep lunar mantle (~ 420 km). Due to the density contrast with the surrounding mantle, IBC/KREEP-bearing melts could potentially decouple under certain conditions. The modified lunar mantle by sinking of IBC/KREEP can better explain the formation of different kinds of lunar basaltic magma than the primary lunar mantle formed through differentiation of lunar magma ocean. Sinking of IBC/KREEP back into the lunar mantle may introduce plagioclase, clinopyroxene, garnet, and incompatible radioactive elements into the deep lunar mantle, which will further affect the thermal and chemical evolution of the lunar interior.