1979•Geophysical Research LettersRequires access

Petrogenesis of Luna 16 aluminous Mare basalts

Ming Ma, R. A. Schmitt, Roger L. Nielsen, G. J. Taylor, R. D. Warner, K. Keil

Abstract

Bulk compositionspetrology and mineralogy of > 0.5 mm Luna 16 aluminous mare basalt particles are described. The data rule out any close genetic relationships between Luna 16 and other major types of lunar mare basalts. Compared to high‐Ti mare basaltsthe Luna 16 basalts contain lower TiO2 (5.1 wt %) and Ta (∼ 0.8 ppm) and higher Al2O3 (13.3 wt %) and REE (∼ 30‐70X chondrites) abundancessuggesting that the Luna 16 source rocks crystallized later than (i.e. stratigraphically above) the ilmenite‐bearing high‐Ti basalt cumulate source rocks. The REE pattern for the Luna 16 basalts requires that the source material from which they were derived crystallized from a light REE enriched magma.

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Key concepts: Basalt, Geology, Petrogenesis, Geochemistry, Ilmenite, Lunar mare, Magma, Chondrite