The crystallisation of lunar basalts

The crystallisation of olivine (O) and silica (S) normative varieties of Apollo 11 crystalline rocks has been followed at 1 atm. The sequence of phases precipitating is (S): spinel, olivine, ilmenite, clinopyroxene plus plagioclase; and (O): spinel, olivine, ilmenite plus plagioclase, clinopyroxene. The last 50% (O) to 75% (S) of the liquid crystallises as a pyroxene-plagioclase-ilmenite cotectic over a narrow temperature range, approximately 1095 to 1125° C, leaving a small silica-rich residue.