CRC TRR 170 - B07: Experimental and isotopic investigations of volatile element loss during magma degassing

Basic data for this project

Description

Many planetary objects, including the Earth, Moon, and some differentiated asteroids are characterized by a strong depletion in moderately volatile elements. However, the origin of these depletions, and whether they reflect processes within the solar nebula or during planetary accretion and differentiation, is unknown. This project will investigate the origin of the extreme volatile depletions observed in some differentiated meteorites by determining the elemental loss and isotopic fractionation of Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ge in controlled degassing experiments, and by comparing these results to the signatures observed for natural samples. Combined, these results will allow quantifying the importance of degassing for the observed volatile depletions.