Time%20to%20Solidify%20an%20Ocean%20of%20Magma

1
Time to Solidify an Ocean of Magma
The Moon melted when it formed. How long did it
take this ocean of magma to solidify?
2
Time to Solidify an Ocean of Magma
Magma ocean cooling began soon after lunar
formation. Measurements of Sm-Nd and W isotopes
indicate lunar formation occurred 4.517 billion
years ago.
Aftermath of the giant impact Rapid, hot
formation of the Moon.
3
Time to Solidify an Ocean of Magma
Rock 72215 collected at Apollo 17 site.
A single zircon in 72215 shows a range of ages.
The oldest cluster at 4.417 billion years. This
is 100 million years after Moon magma ocean began
to crystallize.