Lunar sample analysis

Flameless atomic abosrption, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, ferromagnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, and Moessbauer spectroscopy were used to investigate the evolution of the lunar regolith, the transport of volatile trace metals, and the surface composition of lunar samples. The development of a model for lunar volcanic eruptions is also discussed

Lunar sample analysis

A wide variety of lunar sample and meteorite studies were performed. Abstracts of the most recent reports are also attached. Experimental techniques employed have included scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Mossbauer spectroscopy, atomic absorption analysis and a variety of simulation studies

Lunar sample analysis

The evolution of the lunar regolith under solar wind and micrometeorite bombardment is discussed as well as the size distribution of ultrafine iron in lunar soil. The most important characteristics of complex graphite, sulfide, arsenide, palladium, and platinum mineralization in a pegmatoid pyroxenite of the Stillwater Complex in Montana are examined. Oblique reflected light micrographs and backscattered electron SEM images of the graphite associations are included

Plumbophyllite, a new species from the Blue Bell claims near Baker, San Bernardino County, California

The new mineral plumbophyllite, Pb2Si4O10·H2O, orthorhombic with space group Pbcn and cell parameters a = 13.2083(4), b = 9.7832(3), c = 8.6545(2) Å, V = 1118.33(5) Å^3, and Z = 4. It occurs as colorless to pale blue prismatic crystals to 3 mm, with wedge-shaped terminations at the Blue Bell claims, about 11 km west of Baker, San Bernardino County, California. It is found in narrow veins in a highly siliceous hornfels in association with cerussite, chrysocolla, fluorite, goethite, gypsum, mimetite, opal, plumbotsumite, quartz, sepiolite, and wulfenite. The streak is white, the luster is vitreous, the Mohs hardness is about 5, and there is one perfect cleavage, {100}. The measured density is 3.96(5) g/cm^3 and the calculated density is 3.940 g/cm^3. Optical properties (589 nm): biaxial (+), {alpha} = 1.674(2), β = 1.684(2), {gamma} = 1.708(2), 2V = 66(2)°, dispersion r > v (strong); X = b, Y = c, Z = a. Electron microprobe analysis provided PbO 60.25, CuO 0.23, SiO_2 36.22 wt%, and CHN analysis provided H_2O 3.29 wt% for a total of 99.99 wt%. Powder IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of H_2O and single-crystal IR spectroscopy indicated the H_2O to be oriented perpendicular to the b axis. Raman spectra were also obtained. The strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [d (hkl) I]: 7.88(110)97, 6.63(200)35, 4.90(020)38, 3.623(202)100, 3.166(130)45, 2.938(312/411/222)57, 2.555(132/213)51, and 2.243(521/332)50. The atomic structure (R1 = 2.04%) consists of undulating sheets of silicate tetrahedra between which are located Pb atoms and channels containing H_2O (and Pb^(2+) lone-pair electrons). The silicate sheets can be described as consisting of zigzag pyroxene-like (SiO_3)_n chains joined laterally into sheets with the unshared tetrahedral apices in successive chains pointed alternately up and down, a configuration also found in pentagonite

Further Evidence for Extensive Metasommatism of the Allende Parent Body

The Allende meteorite contains a number of minerals which are uncommon to rare in meteorites generally. A significant fraction of these occur with similar textures and compositions in the three major components, chondrules, matrix, and CAI. Minerals in this category include nepheline, sodalite, pentlandite, awaruite, and hercynite

On the Relationship Between CAI Evolution and Chondrule Formation

The relationship in time and space between CAl formation on the one hand, and chondrule formation on the other is not well understood. It appears that at least compact, coarse-grained CAl were once largely molten. They must have been very depleted in volatiles at that time. However, as now found in Allende they show extensive alteration to volatile rich minerals such as nepheline and sodalite. I have previously argued, partly on the basis of the ubiquitous presence of these volatile rich minerals also in chondrules and matrix, that this alteration probably took place on the Allende parent body (Housley, 1985)

Lunar sample analysis

The surface composition of two samples from the highly shocked, glass-coated lunar basalt (12054) and from four glass-coated fragments from the 1-2 mm (14161) fines were examined by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy to determine whether the agglutination process itself is responsible for the difference between their surface and bulk compositions. Auger electron spectroscopy of glass balls from the 15425 and 74001 fines were analyzed to understand the nature, extent, and behavior of volatile phases associated with lunar volcanism. Initial results indicate that (1) volatiles, in the outer few atomic layers sampled, vary considerably from ball to ball; (2) variability over the surface of individual balls is smaller; (3) the dominant volatiles on the balls are S and Zn; and (4) other volatiles commonly observed are P, Cl, and K

Lunar sample analysis

A simple and convenient method of making quantitative magnetic separations of the lunar fines is described. The fractions obtained form groups containing distinctively different particle types; thus it appears that magnetic separation in itself may be a useful way of characterizing lunar fines. Mossbauer studies of fines 10084 show that the metal can not contain more than about 1.5% Ni implying that by far the bulk of it results from reduction rather than being a direct meteoritic addition. Mossbauer data also places an upper limit on the magnetite content of the fines at least an order of magnitude below that required to account for the characteristic ferromagnetic resonance observed. Microscopic examination of magnetic separates from the 15101 fines suggests that reduction of Fe accompanies every major impact event on the moon and also suggests that the bulk of the material at the collection site has at one time been in an impact plume

Lunar sample analysis

Results are presented from an extensive series of new high resolution scanning electron microscope studies of the very primative group of meteorites known as unequilibrated chondrites. These include quantitative analyses of micrometer sized phases and interpretation in terms of relevant phase equilibria. Several new meteorite minerals including high chromium metal, have been discovered