Apollo 16: Core 60004 - Preliminary study of less than 1 mm fines

The article studies the possible variation of mineralogy as a function of both grain size and depth within the core of less than 1 mm fines, for the core section 60004 from Apollo 16. Twelve samples of the fines were dry sieved. The grain size analysis showed a bimodal distribution for all samples, indicating a competing process of grain size degeneration and agglutinate formation. Approximately 99% of the minerals in the samples examined consisted of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene and olivine, with plagioclase the dominant phase. The various minerals were analyzed, using standard electron microprobe techniques, as a function of size range for each sample, and the representative analyses are presented. Several types of glass were also analyzed, ranging in color from orange through yellow and green to colorless. The investigation of the chemical variations of mineral and lithic clasts from the top and the bottom of the core suggests that although minor variations are present, the regolith was derived from fairly homogeneous sources.