Lunar surface mineralogy using hyperspectral data: Implications for primordial crust in the Earth–Moon system

Mineralogy of the Lunar surface provides important clues for understanding the composition and evolution of the primordial crust in the Earth–Moon system. The primary rock forming minerals on the Moon such as pyroxene, olivine and plagioclase are potential tools to evaluate the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO) hypothesis. Here we use the data from Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M³) onboard the Chandrayaan-1 project of India, which provides Visible/Near Infra Red (NIR) spectral data (hyperspectral data) of the Lunar surface to gain insights on the surface mineralogy. Band shaping and spectral profiling methods are used for identifying minerals in five sites: the Moscoviense basin, Orientale basin, Apollo basin, Wegener crater-highland, and Hertzsprung basin. The common presence of plagioclase in these sites is in conformity with the anorthositic composition of the Lunar crust. Pyroxenes, olivine and Fe-Mg-spinel from the sample sites indicate the presence of gabbroic and basaltic components. The compositional difference in pyroxenes suggests magmatic differentiation on the Lunar surface. Olivine contains OH/H₂O band, indicating hydrous phase in the primordial magmas.     

月球东海盆地的矿物光谱特征及遥感探测

东海盆地是月球上最年轻的大型撞击盆地之一,其地形地貌和矿物与岩石类型分布将有助于我们深入理解月球撞击盆地形成过程和地质演化历史。LOLA高程数据揭示东海盆地为保存完好的多环撞击盆地。基于月球矿物绘图仪（M3）反射率数据,在东海盆地发现了尖晶石、辉石、结晶斜长石、橄榄石等矿物,采用修正高斯模型（MGM）进行混合矿物光谱分解获取了矿物端员,利用光谱角分类方法（SAM）作出了Maunder 撞击坑的主要矿物分布图。发现的纯结晶斜长石矿物与最近其他月球探测（如Kaguya)相吻合,为月球岩浆洋模型提供了新约束条件。在Lowell撞击坑中央峰发现尖晶石分布,并利用多光谱成像仪（MI）数据进行了验证;利用MGM方法,在Maunder建造上发现结晶斜长石与尖晶石的混合矿物,我们通过分析认为东海盆地的尖晶石在外卢克山脉上可能有更广泛的分布。     

顾及太空风化效应的虹湾地区矿物含量反演

月表矿物含量反演是研究月球地质起源和演化的关键.太空风化作用普遍发生在月球表面,对矿物纯净光谱造成了不可忽视的影响,它弱化光谱吸收特征, 降低反射率,影响矿物含量遥感反演精度.基于Relab光谱库和Hapke辐射传输模型,将月表 4种矿物(单斜辉石、斜方辉石、斜长石、橄榄石)的二向性反射率转换成同向性的单次散射反照率,然后计算矿物的光学常数;再根据亚微观金属铁SMFe(submicroscopic metallic iron)的质量分数模拟6种不同程度太空风化效应,得到端元矿物的反射率光谱;最后基于上述方法,利用多端元线性分解方法和M3(moon mineralogy mapper,月球矿物绘图仪)高光谱数据反演不同风化程度下的矿物含量,得到月表虹湾地区辉石、斜长石、橄榄石3种矿物的含量分布.实验表明,利用多端元线性分解可以有效模拟太空风化效应对矿物光谱的影响,是研究太空风化效应影响下矿物识别及含量反演的一种行之有效的方法.      

Inversion of the Main Mineral Compositions and Subdivision of Tectonic Units on Lunar LQ-4 based on Chang’e Data

Spectra are sensitive in detecting main minerals on the lunar surface from visible light to infrared light. Since spectral characteristics of minerals are closely related to their compositions and the maturity level of soil on the Moon, studying the compositions and distribution of elements and minerals on the lunar surface can help to understand the evolution of the Moon through remote sensing technology. The correlation between the spectral characteristics of Chang’e-1 interference imaging spectrometry (IIM) reflectance images and the mineral contents of LSCC (Lunar Soil Characterization Consortium) lunar surface mineral samples was discussed and the spatial distributions of FeO and Al2O3 contained in both pyroxene and plagioclase on LQ-4 were studied using the improved angle parameter method, MNF, and band ratio statistics. A comparison of the mapping results of the optical models by Lucey, Shkuractov and other researchers on Clementine and the gamma ray spectrometry data shows that the content error is within 0.6% for lunar mare areas and close to 1% for the highland areas. The tectonic framework on the lunar surface was also investigated. And based on integrated analysis of previous findings on topography of the lunar surface, Chang’e LAM, CCD and LOLA images and the gravity anomalies data (Clementine GLGM-2), the tectonic unit subdivision was established for LQ-4, the idea of subdividing the lunar tectonic units was proposed, and this will provide a good foundation for studying the lunar tectonic evolution.     

月球的化学演化

月球是一个发生了化学分异的星球,它由月壳、月幔±一个小的金属月核组成。大量观察事实显示月球曾经有过岩浆洋,岩浆洋的结晶分异主导了月球的化学演化。目前主流观点认为,月球是在太阳系演化的早期,至少45亿年前,一个火星大小的星球,与即将完成原始吸积的地球胚胎发生偏心撞击,造成地球的熔融,形成岩浆洋,飞溅出来的物质迅速吸积形成绕地球运动的月球,并且在月球上形成了全球规模的岩浆洋,进而发生了结晶分异。,由于月球上没有海洋和板块俯冲,岩浆洋分异是其化学演化的主要途径。月球岩浆洋的80％～85％在大撞击后的100Ma内已经固化,这可能是由于月球体积小、表面没有大气包裹所致。月球极贫水,因此在岩浆结晶过程中斜长石首先结晶。斜长石由于密度小于玄武质岩浆而漂浮在岩浆洋的表层,橄榄石等密度大的矿物则堆积在岩浆洋的底部。随着结晶分异的进行,残余岩浆不断富集不相容元素,包括K、U等放射性元素;与此同时,密度较大的钛铁矿开始结晶,造成高钛堆晶岩密度大于其下的橄榄石堆晶岩的不稳定结构,进而发生月幔翻转,引发一系列岩浆活动,进而形成月球上特有的镁质系列、碱质系列等岩石。由于月球氧逸度较低,Eu主要以＋2价形式存在,因此斜长石高度富集Eu,相应地除高地斜长岩外,其他岩石均表现为Eu高度亏损的特点。与此同时,Re在低氧逸度下表现为强亲铁元素的特点,Re／Os在月球岩浆过程中不发生分异。月球的体积远小于地球,因而其演化时间远远短于地球,很多原始的分异被完整地保留下来。因此月球的化学演化是类地行星早期演化过程的“化石”,尽管与现代的地球存在较大差异,但是对于认识地球早期演化具有借鉴意义。     

Lunar Magma Ocean crystallization revisited: Bulk composition, early cumulate mineralogy, and the source regions of the highlands Mg-suite

Crystallization of the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO) has been numerically modeled and its products inferred from sample observations, but it has never been fully tested experimentally. This study is a reexamination of the LMO hypothesis by means of the first experimental simulation of lunar differentiation. Two end-member bulk Moon compositions are considered: one enriched in refractory lithophile elements relative to Earth and one with no such enrichment. A “two-stage” model of magma ocean crystallization based on geophysical constraints is simulated and features early crystal suspension and equilibrium crystallization followed by fractional crystallization of the residual magma ocean. An initially entirely molten Moon is assumed. Part 1 of this study, presented here, focuses on stage 1 of this model and considers the early cumulates formed by equilibrium crystallization, differences in mantle mineralogy resulting from different bulk Moon compositions, and implications for the source regions of the highlands Mg-suite.Refractory element enriched bulk Moon compositions produce a deep mantle that contains garnet and trace Cr-spinel in addition to low-Ca pyroxene and olivine. In contrast, compositions without refractory element enrichment produce a deep dunitic mantle with low-Ca pyroxene but without an aluminous phase. The differences in bulk composition are magnified in the residual melt; the residual LMO from the refractory element enriched composition will likely produce plagioclase and ilmenite earlier and in greater quantities. Both compositions produce Mg-rich early cumulate piles that extend from the core-mantle boundary to ∼355 km depth, if 50% equilibrium crystallization and whole Moon melting are assumed. These early LMO cumulates provide good fits for the source regions for a component of the high-Mg^∗, Ni- and Co-poor parental magmas of the Mg-suite cumulates, if certain conditions are called upon. The olivine in early LMO cumulates produced by either bulk Moon composition is far too rich in Cr to be reasonable for the source regions of the Mg-suite, meaning either core formation in the presence of S and/or C must be invoked to deplete the LMO and the crystallizing olivine in Cr, or that current estimates of the bulk lunar Cr content are too high. We infer that melts meeting the criteria of the Mg-suite parents could be produced from early LMO cumulates by solid state KREEP and plagioclase hybridization near the base of the crust and subsequent partial melting. Additionally, we propose a revised model for Mg-suite petrogenesis.     

Oxygen isotopic constraints on the origin of magnesian chondrules and on the gaseous reservoirs in the early Solar System

We report in situ ion microprobe analyses of the oxygen isotopic composition of the major silicate phases (olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, silica, and mesostasis) of 37 magnesian porphyritic (type I) chondrules from CV (Vigarano USNM 477-2, Vigarano UH5, Mokoia, and Efremovka) and CR (EET 92042, EET 92147, EET 87770, El Djouf 001, MAC 87320, and GRA 95229) carbonaceous chondrites. In spite of significant variations of the modal proportions of major mineral phases in CR and CV chondrules, the same isotopic characteristics are observed: (i) olivines are isotopically homogeneous at the ‰ level within a chondrule although they may vary significantly from one chondrule to another, (ii) low-Ca pyroxenes are also isotopically homogeneous but systematically ¹⁶O-depleted relative to olivines of the same chondrule, and (iii) all chondrule minerals analyzed show ¹⁶O-enrichments relative to the terrestrial mass fractionation line, enrichments that decrease from olivine (±spinel) to low-Ca pyroxene and to silica and mesostasis. The observation that, in most of the type I chondrules studied, the coexisting olivine and pyroxene crystals and glassy mesostasis have different oxygen isotopic compositions implies that the olivine and pyroxene grains are not co-magmatic and that the glassy mesostasis is not the parent liquid of the olivine. The δ¹⁸O and δ¹⁷O values of pyroxene and olivine appear to be strongly correlated for all the studied CR and CV chondrules according to:

     

Correlation analysis and partial least square modeling to quantify typical minerals with Chang＇E-3 visible and near-infrared imaging spectrometer＇s ground validation data

In 2013, Chang＇E-3 program will develop lunar mineral resources in-situ detection. A Visible and Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer （VNIS） has been selected as one payload of CE-3 lunar rover to achieve this goal. It is critical and urgent to evaluate VNIS＇ spectrum data quality and validate quantification methods for mineral composition before its launch. Ground validation experiment of VNIS was carried out to complete the two goals, by simulating CE-3 lunar rover＇s detection environment on lunar surface in the laboratory. Based on the hyperspectral reflectance data derived, Correlation Analysis and Partial Least Square （CA-PLS） algorithm is applied to predict abundance of four lunar typical minerals （pyroxene, plagioclase, ilmenite and olivine） in their mixture. We firstly selected a set of VNIS＇ spectral parameters which highly correlated with minerals＇ abundance by correlation analysis （CA）, and then stepwise regression method was used to find out spectral parameters which make the largest contri- butions to the mineral contents. At last, functions were derived to link minerals＇ abundance and spectral parameters by partial least square （PLS） algorithm. Not considering the effect of maturity, agglutinate and Fe~, we found that there are wonderful correlations between these four minerals and VNIS＇ spectral parameters, e.g. the abundance of pyroxene correlates positively with the mixture＇s absorption depth, the value of absorption depth added as the in- creasing of pyroxene＇s abundance. But the abundance of plagioclase correlates negatively with the spectral parame- ters of band ratio, the value of band ratio would decrease when the abundance of plagioclase increased. Similar to plagioclase, the abundance of ilmenite and olivine has a negative correlation with the mixture＇s reflectance data, if the abundance of ilmenite or olivine increase, the reflectance values of the mixture will decrease. Through model validation, better estimates of pyroxene, plagioclase and ilmenite＇s abundances are given. It is concluded that VNIS has the capability to be applied on lunar minerals＇ identification, and CA-PLS algorithm has the potential to be used on lunar surface＇s in-situ detection for minerals＇ abundance prediction.     

Relict silicate inclusions in extraterrestrial chromite and their use in the classification of fossil chondritic material

Chromite is the only common meteoritic mineral surviving long-term exposure on Earth, however, the present study of relict chromite from numerous Ordovician (470 Ma) fossil meteorites and micrometeorites from Sweden, reveals that when encapsulated in chromite, other minerals can survive for hundreds of millions of years maintaining their primary composition. The most common minerals identified, in the form of small (<1-10 μm) anhedral inclusions, are olivine and pyroxene. In addition, sporadic merrillite and plagioclase were found.Analyses of recent meteorites, holding both inclusions in chromite and corresponding matrix minerals, show that for olivine and pyroxene inclusions, sub-solidus re-equilibration between inclusion and host chromite during entrapment has led to an increase in chromium in the former. In the case of olivine, the re-equilibration has also affected the fayalite (Fa) content, lowering it with an average of 14% in inclusions. For Ca-poor pyroxene the ferrosilite (Fs) content is more or less identical in inclusions and matrix. By these studies an analogue to the commonly applied classification system for ordinary chondritic matrix, based on Fa in olivine and Fs in Ca-poor pyroxene, can be established also for inclusions in chromite. All olivine and Ca-poor pyroxene inclusions (>1.5 μm) in chromite from the Ordovician fossil chondritic material plot within the L-chondrite field, which is in accordance with previous classifications. The concordance in classification together with the fact that inclusions are relatively common makes them an accurate and useful tool in the classification of extraterrestrial material that lacks matrix silicates, such as fossil meteorites and sediment-dispersed chromite grains originating primarily from decomposed micrometeorites but also from larger impacts.     

Visible and near-infra-red transmission and reflectance measurements of the Luna 20 soil

Visible and near-infra-red spectra of chemically analyzed grains of glass and minerals from the Luna 20 sample were compared with diffuse reflectance spectra of the bulk soil. As in the spectra of soil samples from other localities on the Moon, pyroxene contributes two broad absorption features near 1 μm and 2 μm. The soil has a high integral reflectance (or albedo) arising from plagioclase, which appears to be the dominant mineral in the lunar highlands. The Luna 20 soil curve is most similar to the reflectance curves of the non-rayed soils at Apollo 16, in agreement with the generally similar mineralogy of these samples. The average pyroxene composition in the Luna 20 soil, as determined from the absorption bands in the diffuse reflectance spectra, and analyses of single crystals, is more calcic than in the lithic fragments. Thus, the soil appears to have a few per cent of admixed material derived from mare basalts. Comparison of the soil spectrum with telescopic curves of nearby areas reveals a close similarity; however, the Luna 20 sample is slightly less mature than expected. Luna 20 may have sampled subsurface material that is fresher than the regional surface soil, or alternatively, the Luna 20 area may contain an admixture of relatively recently exposed material from a ray crater.     

The Lava sequence of the East African Rift escarpment in the Oldoinyo Lengai – Lake Natron sector,Tanzania

A 500 m sequence of horizontal lava flows forms the Gregory rift escarpment of the western rift shoulder between Lake Natron and Oldoinyo Lengai. A detailed volcanic stratigraphy of this >1.2 Ma evolution of the EAR in Northern Tanzania is presented. The sequence is formed by several distinct rock suites, with increasing alkalinity from base to top. Alkali olivine basalts of the Waterfall Sequence at the base are followed by a basanite series, and by a range of evolved nephelinites forming the upper part of the escarpment. Numerous dykes and Strombolian scoria deposits indicate local fissure eruptions as opposed to or in addition to more distant sources. Primitive compositions within each of the series indicate variable candidates for primary magmas. The composition of the basanite suite ranges from primitive mantle melts (high Mg#, Cr, Ni) to more evolved rocks, in particular hawaiites, generated by fractionation of olivine, pyroxene and magnetite. Inter-bedded within the basanite suite, one single olivine melilitite flow with high Mg# and abundant olivine and pyroxene megacrysts is the only primitive candidate for the nephelinite suite. However, in view of the large compositional gap and marked differences in incompatible element ratios, a relation between this flow and the nephelinites remains hypothetical. The variation within the evolved nephelinite series can be partly explained by fractionation of pyroxene, apatite, perovskite (and some nepheline), while magma mixing is indicated by zonation patterns of pyroxene. The most evolved nephelinite, however, differs significantly from all other nephelinites in major and trace elements. Thus the entire sequence is petrologically not a coherent evolution, rather the result of different mantle melts fractionating under variable conditions.Carved into the rift scarp of the study area west of Engare Sero is a young explosion crater, the Sekenge Crater. Sekenge Tuffs are olivine melilitites, similar to other craters and maars of the “Younger Extrusives” on the rift valley floor surrounding Oldoinyo Lengai. Further, still younger alkaline tuffs are found on the top of the rift shoulder.     

Lunar anorthosite 60025, the petrogenesis of lunar anorthosites,and the composition of the Moon

Systematic variations of the mineral chemistry of ferroan anorthosite 60025, which is probably a mixture of closely related materials, suggest that lunar anorthosites formed by strong fractional crystallization and near-perfect adcumulate growth, without trapping liquid. The parent liquid for the most primitive samples was saturated with olivine, plagioclase, pigeonite, and chromite, and evolved to one saturated with plagioclase, pigeonite, high-Ca pyroxene, and ilmenite. The parent liquid also had a very low Na₂O content, and combined with strong fractional crystallization this explains the steep trend of anorthosites on an Mg1 (atomic 100 × Mg/(Mg + Fe)) v. An diagram. The mineral and chemical data for other anorthosites are consistent with such a model. Near-perfect adcumulation can occur if growth takes place at the crystal-liquid interface without the physical accumulation of crystals grown elsewhere, and is encouraged by the shifts in phase boundaries with pressure.Anorthosites are probably the remnants of a crust floating on, and crystallizing at the surface of, a magma ocean originally of bulk Moon composition. Mineralogical and trace element data suggest that the parental liquid for the most primitive anorthosites had previously crystallized no plagioclase and some but perhaps very little pyroxene. Hence the bulk Moon appears to be similar to that proposed by Ringwood (1976) but to have even lower alkalis, a subchondritic $\text{Ca}\text{Al}$ ratio, and REE abundances and patterns close to chondritic. The mare basalt sources are not directly complementary to the feldspathic crust, because experimental and trace element data indicate that they are too magnesian and contain too much high-Ca pyroxene. Other crustal rocks, such as the Mg-suite samples, are not closely related to anorthosites; in addition to their chemical differences they have a different crystallization sequence: ol → plag → px, in contrast with the ol → px → plag inferred for anorthosite parental liquid evolution.     

Volatile interactions with the lunar surface

The Moon is generally depleted in volatile elements and this depletion extends to the surface where the most abundant mineral, anorthite, features <6 ppm H₂O. Presumably the other nominally anhydrous minerals that dominate the mineral composition of the global surface—olivine and pyroxene—are similarly depleted in water and other volatiles. Thus the Moon is tabula rasa for the study of volatiles introduced in the wake of its origin. Since the formation of the last major basin (Orientale), volatiles from the solar wind, from impactors of all sizes, and from volatiles expelled from the interior during volcanic eruptions have all interacted with the lunar surface, leaving a volatile record that can be used to understand the processes that enable processing, transport, sequestration, and loss of volatiles from the lunar system. Recent discoveries have shown the lunar system to be complex, featuring emerging recognition of chemistry unanticipated from the Apollo era, confounding issues regarding transport of volatiles to the lunar poles, the role of the lunar regolith as a sink for volatiles, and the potential for active volatile dynamics in the polar cold traps. While much has been learned since the overturn of the “Moon is dry” paradigm by innovative sample and spacecraft measurements, the data point to a more complex lunar volatile environment than is currently perceived.     

月球反射光谱学及应用

随着我国探月工程稳步开展以及未来深空探测需求,反射光谱学研究在我国重新受到重视。文中简要介绍了月球反射光谱学原理及其研究方法,并以“嫦娥三号”着陆场所在的雨海地区为例展示反射光谱学的部分应用。与背面斜长岩高地相对单调的光谱特征不同,雨海周边高地展示了多样性的吸收特征,岩石类型以苏长岩质岩石为主,橄榄石、辉石、尖晶石等矿物都有分布。月球上最古老的和最年轻的玄武岩在雨海盆地也都有分布。古老的中、低钛玄武岩以易变辉石为主兼有少量低钙普通辉石,年轻的高钛玄武岩富含橄榄石。雨海乃至整个风暴洋地区玄武岩较之其他月海玄武岩贫Ca。雨海地区的元素、矿物组成以及玄武岩时代都具多样性,该区是研究月球热演化的重要地区。     

月球风暴洋火山口暗物质矿物反演及地质意义

月表主要矿物的空间分布是研究月球起源及演化等科学问题的重要信息之一.以风暴洋地区为例, 根据不同矿物光谱在可见光-近红外波段的吸收特征, 使用印度M3(moon mineralogy mapper)数据, 应用波谱特征拟合法(SFF)反演了火山口附近暗物质区域的单斜辉石、斜方辉石、橄榄石和尖晶石等铁镁质矿物的分布, 反演结果显示: 风暴洋地区提取的铁镁质矿物分布较集中, 其中辉石含量较多, 橄榄石和尖晶石含量相对较少.另外着重分析了橄榄石、尖晶石与周围矿物的关系及其地质意义.将提取结果与Lucey用于Clementine影像的光学模型填图结果进行对比显示, 提取的橄榄石分布集中, 但不存在大尺度的分布, 这与本文的研究区域面积有关; 就位置而言, 二者具有较好的一致性.      

南极格罗夫山陨石GRV 020043—一个特殊的E/H过渡型球粒陨石

南极格罗夫山陨石GRV 020043是一块特殊的球粒陨石,虽与普通球粒陨石有着相似的矿物组合,但矿物成分超出普通球粒陨石范围.主要矿物组合及其模式含量(vol%)是:斜方辉石40、橄榄石24、透辉石8、斜长石10、 Fe-Ni合金14、陨硫铁4 vol%、及少量铬铁矿和磷灰石.主要组成矿物成分均一,如斜方辉石(Fs10...     

青海茫崖石棉矿区变质超基性岩的蚀变演化序列：岩石化学及矿物学证据

青海茫崖石棉矿区超基性岩体是由原岩以纯橄岩、辉橄岩和橄辉岩为主体组成的富镁质超基性岩体,经历自变质和后期多期热液的叠加变质蚀变作用,经蛇纹石化后形成蚀变完全的蛇纹岩岩体,其中部分蛇纹岩又进一步发生滑石化及碳酸盐化蚀变为滑石菱镁片岩、菱镁滑石片岩、滑石片岩和菱镁岩等。本文在野外地质调查基础上,在室内通过镜下岩矿综合鉴定、全岩化学成分分析以及电子探针成分分析等手段进行了岩石化学特征、矿物学特征及其蚀变演化过程研究。结果表明,该变质超基性岩体蛇纹岩主要特征组合矿物为蛇纹石(利蛇纹石、叶蛇纹石、纤蛇纹石)、磁铁矿、菱镁矿、滑石、水镁石、铬铁矿,变余矿物有斜方辉石、单斜辉石和铬铁矿,滑石菱镁片岩类主要组成矿物为菱镁矿、滑石、蛇纹石及磁铁矿,局部可见石英脉。该地区变质超基性岩体较完整地记录了橄榄岩水化、滑石化及碳酸盐化作用过程的各个阶段,超基性岩蚀变演化过程主要有两个作用阶段:(Ⅰ)橄榄石、辉石类矿物的蛇纹石化作用及蛇纹石绿泥石化作用;(Ⅱ)富Ca、CO2流体交代蛇纹石、滑石及水镁石的碳酸盐化作用。蛇纹石化等变质蚀变作用促进了Si、Mg及Fe元素化学活动性,使元素发生富集与迁移,对于次生矿物的形成与演化起到了一定的催化作用。多期不同组成流体热液的交代作用过程,清晰地展示了利蛇纹石、纤蛇纹石和叶蛇纹石的演化序列,以及滑石、水镁石、铬铁矿和磁铁矿的形成过程及标形特征。     

Petrogenesis and chronology of lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 4472: A KREEPy regolith breccia from the Moon

Northwest Africa (NWA) 4472 is a polymict lunar regolith meteorite. The sample is KREEP-rich (high concentrations of potassium, rare earth elements and phosphorus) and comprises a heterogeneous array of lithic and mineral fragments. These clasts and mineral fragments were sourced from a range of lunar rock types including the lunar High Magnesian Suite, the High Alkali Suite, KREEP basalts, mare basalts and a variety of impact crater environments. The KREEP-rich nature of NWA 4472 indicates that the sample was ejected from regolith on the nearside of the Moon in the Procellarum KREEP Terrane and we have used Lunar Prospector gamma-ray remote sensing data to show that the meteorite is most similar to (and most likely sourced from) regoliths adjacent to the Imbrium impact basin.U-Pb and Pb-Pb age dates of NWA 4472 phosphate phases reveal that the breccia has sampled Pre-Nectarian (4.35 Ga) rocks related to early episodes of KREEP driven magmatism. Some younger phosphate U-Pb and Pb-Pb age dates are likely indicative of impact resetting events at 3.9-4 Ga, consistent with the suggested timing of basin formation on the Moon. Our study also shows that NWA 4472 has sampled impact melts and glass with an alkali-depleted, incompatible trace element-rich (high Sc, low Rb/Th ratios, low K) compositional signature not related to typical Apollo high-K KREEP, or that sampled by KREEPy lunar meteorite Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU) 169. This provides evidence that there are numerous sources of KREEP-rich protoliths on the Moon.     

Petrology of the Partridge River Intrusion, Duluth Complex, Minnesota: 1. Relationships between Mineral Compositions, Density and Trapped Liquid Abundance

A 525-m-long drill core (DDH-221) through the Partridge Riverintrusion has been divided into four zones on the basis of changesin mineral abundances, compositions and grain size. The igneousrocks in the core consist of cumulate gabbro, troctolite andolivine gabbronorite, in which the original cumulate frameworkof plagioclase and olivine contained varying amounts of trappedintercumulus (pore) liquid. The compositions of the unzoned olivine (Fo_31–71) havebeen modified by reaction with Fe-rich in situ intercumulusliquid, but the plagioclase cores (An_59–73) have not.The compositions of postcumulus Ca-rich pyroxene, restrictedto En_36–44, and the more variable Ca-poor pyroxene (En_45–74),follow a downward Fe-enrichment trend similar to the Fe-enrichmentin the olivine. The cumulus olivine expected to be in equilibriumwith plausible parental magmas to these rocks was not preservedin the drill core, nor is the chilled margin to the intrusionsufficiently primitive to account for all the olivine. Revisedmass balance estimates of the primary magmatic compositionsof olivine are Fo_67–85. The new limiting value for theprimary olivine is similar to the Fo_83–85 olivine expectedto crystallize from the chilled margin to the nearby PigeonPoint olivine diabase sill under equilibrium conditions. Thechanges in the mineral compositions in core DDH-221 do not adequatelydescribe the behavior of parental melts on an equilibrium coolingpath, implying that the cumulus plagioclase and olivine crystallizedelsewhere, and were mixed with varying amounts of intercumulusliquid before introduction to the present crustal site of thePartridge River intrusion. Rock density increases with depth from 2?76 to 3?21, with amean of 2?98 g/cm³. Estimated trapped liquid densities rangefrom 2?56 to 2?92 g/cm³ at high temperatures. This is interpretedto mean that the intercumulus liquid could not have been expelledupward by compaction of the cumulate pile. The dense intercumulusliquid increased downward in abundance to form a series of rocksthat range continuously from variously packed framework cumulatesto chilled non-cumulate rocks in the basal zone. In situ crystallizationis concluded to be the dominant mode of solidification of thePartridge River intrusion, in which infiltration metasomatismis precluded by the high liquid density.     

Trace element composition of silicate minerals in the porphyritic and nonporphyritic chondrules of Elenovka (L5) and Knyahinya (L/Ll5) meteorites

The results of SIMS and EPMA studies on the silicate minerals and bulk compositions (SEM-EDS) of porphyritic and nonporphyritic chondrules from Elenovka and Knyahinya meteorites are reported. The trace element composition of silicate minerals (olivine, low-Са pyroxene) in equilibrated ordinary chondrites (EOC) has not been affected considerably by thermal metamorphism on the chondritic parent bodies. Therefore, equilibrated chondrites can be used for chondrule-forming processes studies. Low-Са pyroxene in nonporphyritic chondrules contains higher REE, Ba, Sr concentrations than that in porphyritic chondrules at similar trace element concentrations in the olivine of chondrules. The data obtained indicate that the formation of non-porphyritic chondrules was triggered by an increase in the cooling rate of chondrules upon the formation of pyroxene, rather than a difference in the initial conditions of chondrule formation. Higher refractory incompatible element (Nb, LREE) concentrations in the olivine of chondrules than those in the olivine of the matrix and contrasting trace element (Zr, Sr, Cr, REE) concentrations in the low-Са pyroxene of the chondrules and the matrix suggest that the matrix and chondrules of the meteorites formed in one reservoir under different physico-chemical conditions (density, redox state, rotation speed, homogeneity, temperature, shocks, electrical discharge, etc.).