Oxygen Fugacity of Martian Shergottites: Implications for the Oxidation State of the Mantle Source of Mars

Principal Investigator: Dr. Wu Yunhua

Period：2021.01 - 2023.12

Project funding amount：RMB 240,000

Project Description:

Oxygen fugacity controls the occurrence of multi-valence ions (iron, carbon, ect.), so it is a critical factor affecting the geochemical and geophysical properties of martian mantle. After dozens of years of extensive studies, there is still no consensus on the exact conditions of martian mantle oxygen fugacity. Martian shergottites are products of mantle-derived magma, so they are eligible targets to investigate both the composition of the martian mantle source and possible compositional changes during martian magmatism. This proposal is aimed at investigating the oxidation state of the mantle source by studying the magmatic process and oxygen fugacity of shergottites, and potential factors that might alter the oxygen fugacity during magma evolution. New information about the possible range and variation mechanism of oxygen fugacity in shergottites will be earned, further providing constraints on magma processes and the oxidation state of the mantle of Mars.