The mineralogical, chemical, and chronological characteristics of the crystalline Apollo 16 impact melt rocks
Abstract
A comparative review of mineralogical, chemical, and chronological data on crystalline Apollo 16 impact melt rocks is presented. The use of such data to identify distinct impact melt complex is discussed, and 22 distinct impact melt bodies are identified. The recently detected group of feldspathic microporphyritic (FM) melt rocks was tested for chemical and isotopic homogeneity; instrumental neutron activation analysis and new Rb-Sr isotopic whole rock data indicate that FMs were probably not derived from a single impact melt sheet, but might be representative of the Descartes basement. Stratigraphical and chronological concepts for the geological development of the landing site are discussed, and a model is presented for the formation of the Cayley Plains and the Descartes formation.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report A
- Pub Date:
- December 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984STIA...8534422R
- Keywords:
-
- Chronology;
- Crystallinity;
- Impact Melts;
- Lunar Composition;
- Lunar Rocks;
- Mineralogy;
- Aluminum Oxides;
- Apollo 16 Flight;
- Chemical Analysis;
- Chromium;
- Feldspars;
- Neutron Activation Analysis;
- Rare Earth Elements;
- Rubidium Isotopes;
- Strontium Isotopes;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration