Open AccessPhase transitions and melting in Mars
Author(s) -
Weizman A.,
Prialnik D.,
Podolak M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/96je03992
Subject(s) - solidus , martian , mars exploration program , peridotite , basalt , geology , mineralogy , materials science , astrobiology , geochemistry , physics , composite material , alloy
The basic thermal evolution model, described by Weizman et al. [1996], was modified to include the effect of phase transitions and the dependence of melting temperatures on pressure. The total amount of water release through Martian history was estimated from this model using the wet solidus of peridotite. Assuming a water content of 0.1% in the basalt, we find that the total amount of water released would be sufficient to cover the planet with a layer at least 3–300 m thick.