Optical and chemical analysis of iron in Luna 20 plagioclase

The iron content of Luna 20 anorthitic plagioclase ranges from a few hundredths to a few tenths of a weight per cent from crystal to crystal. Rather than being related to the original composition of the parent magma or magmas, the optical and chemical properties of the iron appear to be caused by postcrystallization migration and exsolution.Oriented inclusions of iron alloy present as needle-like crystals are observed, and the host plagioclases are irregularly chemically zoned in iron. It is not known whether thermal metamorphism or another process of chemical reduction related to impact and shock is responsible for the observed phenomena. Postcrystallization effects may obscure evidence of the original oxidation state and iron concentration of these crystals.