News

Frontiers in Mars Sample Chronology March 24-25, 2021 A virtual workshop sponsored by The Meteoritical Society and The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland Determining the absolute ages of Mars samples is a key objective for current and future Mars exploration. Recent work on martian meteorites has pushed the analytical envelope in Mars sample geochronology; this work informs future plans for the geochronology of samples returned to Earth through Mars Sample Return, an effort that starts with the collection and caching of samples by the NASA Mars 2020 Mission. The goal of this workshop is to review recent results; identify and elaborate on the frontiers in spatial and isotopic resolution, and minimum sample mass; and consider advances that will be required to optimize the geochronology of future samples of Mars. Registration is free, but pre-registration is required. Abstract deadline is 5th March. We hope you can join us! Co-conveners: James Darling, University of Portsmouth Christopher Herd, University of Alberta More…

Renew your MetSoc membership before Jan. 20 to avoid loss of MaPS subscription. More…

Interactions between the interior and atmosphere of terrestrial planets are modulated by the planets’ bulk composition, which in turn is linked to the chemical properties of their host stars. As stellar photosphere and planetary atmosphere can be directly probed, compositional properties of the rocky interior can only be inferred from other data. What constraints can be placed on the range of possible compositions of terrestrial exoplanets? How do surface-interior interactions shape atmospheric properties of rocky worlds around other stars? How diverse is the physical and chemical parameter space of these exo-worlds? We invite contributions - from geodynamics, geochemistry, cosmochemistry as well as astrophysics - that explore physical and chemical links between stars and planets and between rocky interior and atmosphere, and their implications for planet long-term evolution. More…