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New Insights into the Composition and Texture of Lunar Regolith Using Ultrafast Automated Electron-Beam AnalysisSieved grain mounts of Apollo 16 drive tube samples have been examined using QEMSCAN - an innovative electron beam technology. By combining multiple energy-dispersive X-ray detectors, fully automated control, and off-line image processing, to produce digital mineral maps of particles exposed on polished surfaces, the result is an unprecedented quantity of mineralogical and petrographic data, on a particle-by-particle basis. Experimental analysis of four size fractions (500-250 microns, 150-90 microns, 75-45 microns and < 20 microns), prepared from two samples (64002,374 and 64002,262), has produced a robust and uniform dataset which allows for the quantification of mineralogy; texture; particle shape, size and density; and the digital classification of distinct particle types in each measured sample. These preliminary data show that there is a decrease in plagioclase modal content and an opposing increase in glass modal content, with decreasing particle size. These findings, together with data on trace phases (metals, sulphides, phosphates, and oxides), provide not only new insights into the make-up of lunar regolith at the Apollo 16 landing site, but also key physical parameters which can be used to design lunar simulants, and compute Figures of Merit for each material produced.
Document ID
20090014145
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rickman, Doug
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Wentworth, Susan J.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Schrader, Christian M.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Stoeser, Doug
(Geological Society of America New York, NY, United States)
Botha, Pieter WSK
(Intellection Corp. Westminster, CO, United States)
Butcher, Alan R.
(Intellection Pty Ltd Queensland, Australia)
Horsch, Hanna E.
(Intellection Pty Ltd Queensland, Australia)
Benedictus, Aukje
(Intellection Pty Ltd Queensland, Australia)
Gottlieb, Paul
(Intellection Pty Ltd Queensland, Australia)
McKay, David
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
October 5, 2008
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
MSFC-2138
Meeting Information
Meeting: Joint Meeting of the Geological Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America
Location: Houston, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: October 5, 2008
End Date: October 9, 2008
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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