NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Volatility in the lunar crust: Trace element analyses of lunar minerals by PIXE proton microprobeIn situ determination of mineral compositions using microbeam techniques can characterize magma compositions through mineral-melt partitioning, and be used to investigate fine-grained or rare phases which cannot be extracted for analysis. Abundances of Fe, Mn, Sr, Ga, Zr, Y, Nb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Se, and Sb were determined for various mineral phases in a small number of lunar highlands rocks using the PIXE proton microprobe. Sr/Ga ratios of plagioclase and Mn/Zn ratios of mafic silicates show that the ferroan anorthosites and Mg-suite cumulates are depleted in volatile lithophile elements to about the same degree compared with chondrites and the Earth. This links the entire lunar crust to common processes or source compositions. In contrast, secondary sulfides in Descartes breccia clasts are enriched in chalcophile elements such as Cu, Zn, Ni, Se, and Sb, and represent a potential resource in the lunar highlands.
Document ID
19940016188
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Norman, M. D.
(Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Griffin, W. L.
(Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization North Ryde, Australia)
Ryan, C. G.
(Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization North Ryde, Australia)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Inst., Twenty-Fourth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Part 3: N-Z
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
94N20661
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available