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Lithification opf gas-rich chondrite regolith breccias by grain boundary and localized shock meltingThe fine-grained matrices (less than 150 microns) of 14 gas-rich ordinary chondrile regolith breccias were studied in an attempt to decipher the nature of the lithification process that converted loose regolith material into consolidated breccias. It is found that there is a continuouos gradation in matrix textures from nearly completely clastic (class A) to highly cemented (class C) breccias in which the remining clasts are completely surrounded by interstitial, shock-melted material. It is concluded that this interstitial material is formed by shock melting in the porous regolith. In general, the abundances of solar-wind-implanted He-4 and Ne-20 are inversely correlated with the abundance of intenstitial, shock-melted, feldspathic material. Chondrites with the highest abundance of interstitial, melted material (class C) experienced the highest shock pressures and temperatures and suffered the most extensive degassing. It is this interstitial, feldspathic melt that lithifies and cements the breccias together; those breccias with very little interstitial melt (class A) are the most porous and least consolidated.
Document ID
19840039680
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Bischoff, A.
(New Mexico, University Albuquerque, NM; Muenster, Universitaet, Muenster, Germany)
Rubin, A. E.
(New Mexico Univ. Albuquerque, NM, United States)
Keil, K.
(New Mexico, University Albuquerque, NM, United States)
Stoeffler, D.
(Muenster, Universitaet Muenster, Germany)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1983
Publication Information
Publication: Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume: 66
ISSN: 0012-821X
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
84A22467
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-32-004-064
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG9-30
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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