KREEP glass and the exotic provenance and formation of polymict breccia 66055The Apollo 16 site polymict breccia 66055 contains abundant brown KREEP glass, as well as related brown glassy breccias having fluid forms. Most of the rock is composed of clasts of poikiloblastic breccia and mesostasis-rich impact melt which predate 66055's assembly, while the KREEP glass was created in the rock-producing impact. KREEP compositions are not common at the Apollo 16 site, leading to the speculation that 66055 originated in terrains to the west of the landing site. The presence of a granitic glass fragment that is embedded in the KREEP glass suggests that it is igneous, with a local volcanic origin which is more consistent with spatial relationships deduced from orbital geochemical data than with a basin ejecta deposit origin.
Document ID
19830034123
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Ryder, G. (Northrop Services Lunar Curatorial Laboratory Houston, TX, United States)
Blair, E. (Indiana, University Bloomington, IN, United States)