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Preliminary Geological Findings on the BP-1 SimulantA waste material from an aggregate producing quarry has been used to make an inexpensive lunar simulant called BP-1. The feedstock is the Black Point lava flow in northern Arizona. Although this is part of the San Francisco volcanic field, which is also the source of the JSC-1 series feedstock, BP-1 and JSC-1 are distinct. Chemically, the Black Point flow is an amygdaloidal nepheline-bearing basalt. The amygdules are filled with secondary minerals containing opaline silica, calcium carbonate, and ferric iron minerals. X-ray diffraction (XRD) detected approximately 3% quartz, which is in line with tests done by the Kennedy Space Center Industrial Hygiene Office. Users of this material should use appropriate protective equipment. XRD also showed the presence of significant halite and some bassanite. Both are interpreted to be evaporative residues due to recycling of wash water at the quarry. The size distribution of BP-1 may be superior to some other simulants for some applications.
Document ID
20100036344
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Stoeser, D. B.
(Geological Survey Denver, CO, United States)
Rickman, D. L.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Wilson, S.
(Geological Survey Denver, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 2010
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2010-216444
M-1293
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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