1984Journal of Geophysical Research AtmospheresRequires access

Petrology of Apollo 11 regolith breccias

S. B. Simon, J. J. Papike, C. K. Shearer

Open publisher page 14 citations

Abstract

Petrographic and mineral chemical data for 16 Apollo 11 regolith breccias show that: (1) the regolith breccias differ from soil 10084 with respect to (a) agglutinate content, (b) glass population, (c) plagioclase compositions, and (d) proportions of high‐K mare and low‐K mare basalt components; (2) the A‐11 breccias and soil have highland components that are similar both in abundance and petrology; and (3) lunar regolith breccias provide a better comparison with howardites than do lunar soils. The data and observations are consistent with formation of the regolith breccias from immature soil. It appears that little or no highland material has been added to the Tranquillitatis regolith since the formation of the breccias.

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What this paper is about

Petrographic and mineral chemical data for 16 Apollo 11 regolith breccias show that: (1) the regolith breccias differ from soil 10084 with respect to (a) agglutinate content, (b) glass population, (c) plagioclase compositions, and (d) proportions of high‐K mare and low‐K mare basalt components; (2) the A‐11 breccias and soil have highland components that are similar both in abundance and petrology; and (3) lunar regolith breccias provide a better comparison with howardites than do lunar soils. The data and observations are consistent with formation of the regolith breccias from immature soil. It appears that little or no highland material has been added to the Tranquillitatis regolith since the formation of the breccias.

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Available abstract

Petrographic and mineral chemical data for 16 Apollo 11 regolith breccias show that: (1) the regolith breccias differ from soil 10084 with respect to (a) agglutinate content, (b) glass population, (c) plagioclase compositions, and (d) proportions of high‐K mare and low‐K mare basalt components; (2) the A‐11 breccias and soil have highland components that are similar both in abundance and petrology; and (3) lunar regolith breccias provide a better comparison with howardites than do lunar soils. The data and observations are consistent with formation of the regolith breccias from immature soil. It appears that little or no highland material has been added to the Tranquillitatis regolith since the formation of the breccias.

Key concepts: Regolith, Breccia, Geology, Geochemistry, Basalt, Lunar soil, Plagioclase, Astrobiology

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