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 inEarth and planetary science letters Vol. 256; no. 1; pp. 55 - 60
Main Authors Fritz, Jörg, Greshake, Ansgar, Stöffler, Dieter
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 15.04.2007
Subjects
impact ejection
interplanetary transfer
Mars
Martian climate
Martian meteorite
Martian climate
Mars
interplanetary transfer
impact ejection
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.
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ISSN:0012-821X
1385-013X
DOI:10.1016/j.epsl.2007.01.009