Mineral phases on the fracture of a glass particle and in the fines of a Luna 24 regolith sample

This paper reports new findings of native molybdenum and iron from Mare Crisium. Native tin, copper, and nickel were detected for the first time in this area of the lunar surface. Native tantalum and indium, intermetallic compound Ta₂Mo, and barium titanate Ba₂TiO₄ were found for the first time on the Moon. The latter two phases were observed for the first time in nature. It was shown that the investigated mineral phases correspond to different genetic groups (preimpact, impact, and postimpact mineral assemblages), which is in general typical of lunar regolith. Based on the morphological features of the identified mineral phases, the history of the formation of impact glass particles was reconstructed in part. They were probably affected by at least three impact events. It was concluded that the peculiar molybdenum geochemical anomaly observed in a group of orange impact glass fragments was not related to the impactor material but rather to the intrinsic enrichment in molybdenum of lunar rocks (target) in the area of the impact events. It was supposed that this enrichment could be of exhalative (fumarole) nature.     

Native Ta and in from a probe of regolith AS “Luna-24”

Doklady Earth Sciences -