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Petrology of basaltic and monomineralic soil fragments from the Sea of Fertility

1972; Elsevier BV; Volume: 13; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0012-821x(72)90105-7

1385-013X

A. E. Bence, W. Holzwarth, J. J. Papike,

Space Exploration and Technology

Basaltic and monomineralic fragments from the 150-425 micron size fractions of the Luna 16 core obtained from the Sea of Fertility were studied by optical petrographic, electron microprobe, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Three textural varieties were identified in the basalts (intersertal, subophitic, and recrystallized). These textures, the assemblages, and individual mineral compositions (especially pyroxenes) indicate that these basalts crystallized under conditions very similar to those from Apollo 11. The pyroxenes have slightly lower Ti/Al (atomic) ratios than the Apollo 11 pyroxenes. We interpret the presence of octahedral Al as being due to the low TiO2/Al2O3 (weight %) ratio in the bulk rock. All observations made on the fine-grained basalt fragments are consistent with a rapid, near-surface, one-stage crystallization history.