Asteroids and andesites.
The production of terrestrial andesites in subduction zones is well established. Day et al. describe two examples of meteorites (GRA 06128 and GRA 06129) that they claim to represent "an entirely new mode of generation of andesite crust compositions" on asteroids; this suggestion has wide implications for the generation of andesitic planetary crusts in general. However, here we show that compositional data, particularly for the rare-earth elements (REEs) and other lithophile elements, presented in their paper do not substantiate this claim. We conclude that existing mechanisms for andesite generation do not need revision.
Arculus
Richard
R
Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia. Ross.Taylor@anu.edu.au
Campbell
Ian H
IH
McLennan
Scott M
SM
Taylor
Stuart Ross
SR