Some aspects of the minor element chemistry of lunar mare basalts

The principal minor element (including Ti) characteristics of mare basalts which must be explained by an acceptable theory of petrogenesis are reviewed. Recent hypotheses have proposed that mare basalts formed by equilibrium partial melting of pyroxene-rich cumulates which underlay and were complementary to the anorthositic crust. These hypotheses are examined in detail and are rejected on several grounds. A new hypothesis based upon partial melting under conditions of surface or local equilibrium is proposed. It is assumed that the moon accreted from material which had ultimately formed by fractional condensation from a gas phase of appropriate composition. A disequilibrium mineral assemblage with a bulk composition similar to that of the pyroxenite source region of mare basalts as derived from experimental petrological considerations was formed. It is considered that this model is capable of explaining the principal minor element characteristics of mare basalts and is consistent with interpretations of the major element chemistry of their source region based upon experimental petrology. (Auth.)