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Phosphorus Zoning in Olivines: A critical tool for tracking magma ascent and storage in the martian crust.

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Title: Phosphorus Zoning in Olivines: A critical tool for tracking magma ascent and storage in the martian crust.
Authors: Chatterjee, Arka P.1 (AUTHOR) arka.chatterjee@eaps.ethz.ch, Allaz, Julien1 (AUTHOR), Huber, Christian2 (AUTHOR), Morales, Luiz F.G.3 (AUTHOR), Ostwald, Amanda4,5 (AUTHOR), Bachmann, Olivier1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Apr2026, Vol. 419, p146-164. 19p.
Subjects: Olivine, Martian meteorites, Magmas, Meteorites, Martian geology
Abstract: Martian meteorites, the only available samples of Martian lithologies, provide unique insights into martian magmatism. Olivines in these meteorites contain complex phosphorus (P) zoning, which shed insights into the behaviour of mafic magmas in the martian crust. These olivines crystallized in multiple stages in ascending magmas, and preserved compositional zoning, particularly in P, due to its low diffusivity. Although previous studies have documented P zoning in martian olivines and attributed its formation to rapid crystallization events in magma storage zones within the crust, the processes responsible for the undercooling and fast olivine growth remain unresolved. This study addresses the challenge of interpreting P zoning in martian olivines to better understand the conditions which affected their crystallization histories. Using high-resolution P X-ray maps and microprobe traverses, we show that P zoning in olivine megacrysts from shergottites (martian basalts) and chassignites (martian dunites) consistently records rapid crystallization events at high undercooling due to magma ascent through the martian crust. These zoning patterns, observed in cores, mantles, and rims of olivines from hypabyssal and intrusive samples, highlight different crystallisation conditions during staging, ascent and emplacement of magmas at varying crustal depths. P zoning in olivine-phyric shergottites, viewed in the light of previous thermobarometry results, record initial olivine nucleation in the lower crust, ascent to the mid-crust and final rapid crystallization in the shallow subsurface. Similarly, we inferred multiple cycles of magma ascent and storage in the martian crust from the P zoning in poikilitic and non-poikilitic regions of a poikilitic shergottite. We also provide evidence from P zoning in olivines to differentiate between magma storage relatively deep in the crust and shallow, hypabyssal emplacement. The nature of P zoning during the final stages of olivine crystallization can serve as in-situ evidence of the eruptive behaviour of shallow magma bodies. Further analyses of available meteorites and olivines from future sample return missions will be fundamental to build a holistic model of martian magma plumbing systems and its evolution through time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Abstract:Martian meteorites, the only available samples of Martian lithologies, provide unique insights into martian magmatism. Olivines in these meteorites contain complex phosphorus (P) zoning, which shed insights into the behaviour of mafic magmas in the martian crust. These olivines crystallized in multiple stages in ascending magmas, and preserved compositional zoning, particularly in P, due to its low diffusivity. Although previous studies have documented P zoning in martian olivines and attributed its formation to rapid crystallization events in magma storage zones within the crust, the processes responsible for the undercooling and fast olivine growth remain unresolved. This study addresses the challenge of interpreting P zoning in martian olivines to better understand the conditions which affected their crystallization histories. Using high-resolution P X-ray maps and microprobe traverses, we show that P zoning in olivine megacrysts from shergottites (martian basalts) and chassignites (martian dunites) consistently records rapid crystallization events at high undercooling due to magma ascent through the martian crust. These zoning patterns, observed in cores, mantles, and rims of olivines from hypabyssal and intrusive samples, highlight different crystallisation conditions during staging, ascent and emplacement of magmas at varying crustal depths. P zoning in olivine-phyric shergottites, viewed in the light of previous thermobarometry results, record initial olivine nucleation in the lower crust, ascent to the mid-crust and final rapid crystallization in the shallow subsurface. Similarly, we inferred multiple cycles of magma ascent and storage in the martian crust from the P zoning in poikilitic and non-poikilitic regions of a poikilitic shergottite. We also provide evidence from P zoning in olivines to differentiate between magma storage relatively deep in the crust and shallow, hypabyssal emplacement. The nature of P zoning during the final stages of olivine crystallization can serve as in-situ evidence of the eruptive behaviour of shallow magma bodies. Further analyses of available meteorites and olivines from future sample return missions will be fundamental to build a holistic model of martian magma plumbing systems and its evolution through time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00167037
DOI:10.1016/j.gca.2026.02.033