[12.571 / ESS] Earth Science Seminar – James W. Dottin III (Brown University)

“Endogenous, yet exotic, sulfur in the lunar mantle”

The leading hypotheses for the origin of the Moon call for a giant impact event between proto-Earth and a separate impactor (Theia). The efficiency of mixing material among these two planetary bodies remains a subject of debate. Inefficient mixing during this process could leave behind remnants of the composition of the proto-Earth and/or Theia. The sulfur isotope composition of primordial components that survived this impact event could be used to place constraints on early solar nebula chemistry and the distribution of S components throughout the early solar system, as well as the efficiency of mixing during the giant Moon-forming impact event. This study presents anomalous sulfur isotope data from lunar rocks, that indicate the presence of either (1) exotic chemistry and crustal recycling during the early evolution of the Moon or (2) material that was not well mixed during the giant Moon-Forming impact event.

Earth Science Seminar —

Lecture portion of the EAPS graduate-level class 12.571, covering current research in geophysics, geology, geochemistry, and geobiology. All members of the MIT community are welcome to join for presentations by guest speakers, held approximately every two weeks during the term.

Contact: earth-science-seminar-info@mit.edu