The Martian meteorite paradox: Climatic influence on impact ejection from Mars?

The large number of Martian meteorites with “young” crystallization ages (especially shergottites formed ∼ 170 Myr ago on Mars) represents a paradox, because it suggests that either the mean surface age of Mars is rather young or that specific source regions are preferentially amenable for impact sa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Earth and planetary science letters 2007-04, Vol.256 (1), p.55-60
Main Authors: Fritz, Jörg, Greshake, Ansgar, Stöffler, Dieter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
impact ejection
interplanetary transfer
Mars
Martian climate
Martian meteorite
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Summary:The large number of Martian meteorites with “young” crystallization ages (especially shergottites formed ∼ 170 Myr ago on Mars) represents a paradox, because it suggests that either the mean surface age of Mars is rather young or that specific source regions are preferentially amenable for impact sampling. We present a climate controlled scenario, in which surface regions of limited extent have been especially favored for impact ejection of Martian meteorites during the past ∼ 5 Myr. This conclusion implies that the ejection ages of the shergottites may be used to constrain the end of the last major glaciations on Mars.
ISSN:0012-821X
1385-013X
DOI:10.1016/j.epsl.2007.01.009