Abstract
The chemical composition of soils and rocks from the Pathfinder site and Phobos‐2 orbital gamma‐ray spectroscopy indicate that the Martian crust has a bulk composition equivalent to large‐ion lithophile (LIL) and heat‐producing element (K, Th, U) enriched basalt, with a potassium content of about 0.5%. A variety of radiogenic isotope data also suggest that separation of LIL‐enriched crust and depleted mantle reservoirs took place very early in Martian history (>4.0 Ga). Accordingly, if the enriched Martian crust is ≥30 km thick it is likely that a large fraction (up to at least 50%) of the heat‐producing elements in Mars was transferred into the crust very early in the planet's history. This would greatly diminish the possibility of early widespread melting of the Martian mantle.
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