Abstract
We derive the bulk chemical composition, physical properties, and
trace element abundances of Mars from two assumptions: (1) Mars is
the parent body for the Shergottite-Nakhlite-Chassignite (SNC) meteorites,
and (2) the oxygen isotopic composition of Mars was determined by
the oxygen isotopic compositions of the different types of nebular
material that accreted to form Mars. We use oxygen isotopes to constrain
planetary bulk compositions because oxygen is generally the most
abundant element in rock, and is either the first or second (after
iron) most abundant element in any terrestrial planet, the Moon,
other rocky satellites, and the asteroids. The oxygen isotopic composition
of Mars, calculated from oxygen isotopic analyses of the SNC meteorites,
corresponds to the accretion of about 85% H-, 11% CV-, and 4% CI-chondritic
material. (Unless noted otherwise, mass percentages are used in this
paper.) The bulk composition of Mars follows from mass balance calculations
using mean compositions for these chondrite groups. We predict that
silicates (mantle + crust) comprise about 80% of Mars. The composition
of the silicate fraction represents the composition of the primordial
martian mantle prior to crustal formation. The FeO content of the
mantle is 17.2%. A metal-sulfide core, containing about 10.6% S,
makes up the remaining 20% of the planet. Our bulk composition is
similar to those from other models. We calculate the abundances of
siderophile (''metal-loving'') and chalcophile (''sulfide-loving'')
elements in the martian mantle from the bulk composition using (metal-sulfide)/silicate
partition coefficients. Our results generally agree with predictions
of the SNC meteorite model of Wanke and Dreibus for the composition
of Mars. However, we predict higher abundances for the alkalis and
halogens than those derived from SNC meteorite models for Mars. The
apparent discrepancy indicates that the alkalis and halogens were
lost from the martian mantle by hydrothermal leaching and/or vaporization
during accretion. Geochemical arguments suggest that vaporization
was only a minor loss process for these elements. On the other hand,
aqueous transport of the alkalis and halogens to the surface is supported
by the terrestrial geochemistry of these elements and the high K,
Rb, Cl, and Br abundances found by the Viking XRF and Phobos gamma
ray experiments on the surface of Mars. (C) 1997 Academic Press.
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