Heterogeneity in titaniferous lunar basalts
Abstract
Small, but real, chemical differences exist between subsamples of fine-grained, quench-textured titaniferous lunar basalts. The existence of different textural domains with different chemistries is thought to account for most of this variation. In addition to the textural domains, 74275 has a population of a few percent of Fo 77-80 olivine "megacrysts", as well as dunite fragments of Fo 80-84. These materials are thought to be extraneous and to compromise the primary nature of 74275. Recognition of the small chemical variations present may aid in understanding some discrepancies in the experimental petrology literature. However, these small variations have a distressing petrogenetic significance since they severely limit resolution in recognizing the number and depth of origin of primary magmas.
- Publication:
-
Earth and Planetary Science Letters
- Pub Date:
- April 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0012-821X(76)90005-4
- Bibcode:
- 1976E&PSL..30...27W
- Keywords:
-
- Basalt;
- Heterogeneity;
- Lunar Rocks;
- Petrology;
- Titanium;
- Chemical Properties;
- Crystallization;
- Dunite;
- Magma;
- Microstructure;
- Olivine;
- Petrography