Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf isotope systematics of the lunar Mg-suite: The age of the lunar crust and its relation to the time of Moon formation

Abstract

New Rb-Sr, 146,147Sm-142,143Nd and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses of Mg-suite lunar crustal rocks 67667, 76335, 77215 and 78238, including an internal isochron for norite 77215, were undertaken to better define the time and duration of lunar crust formation and the history of the source materials of the Mg-suite. Isochron ages determined in this study for 77215 are: Rb-Sr=4450 ± 270 Ma, 147Sm-143Nd =4283 ± 23 Ma and Lu-Hf= 4421 ± 68 Ma. The data define an initial 146Sm/144Sm ratio of 0.00193 ± 0.00092 corresponding to ages between 4348 and 4413 Ma depending on the halflife and initial abundance used for 146Sm. The initial Nd and Hf isotopic compositions of all samples indicate a source region with slight enrichment in the incompatible elements in accord with previous suggestions that the Mg-suite crustal rocks contain a component of KREEP. The Sm/Nd-142Nd/ 144Nd correlation shown by both ferroan anorthosite and Mg-suite rocks is coincident with the trend defined by mare and KREEP basalts, the slope of which corresponds to ages between 4.35 and 4.45 Ga. These data, along with similar ages for various early Earth differentiation events, are in accord with the model of lunar formation via giant impact into Earth at ca 4.4 Ga. © 2014 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society.