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Antarctic Meteorite ALHA81005 – Not just another lunar anorthositic norite
Author(s) -
Korotev Randy L.,
Lindstrom Marilyn M.,
Lindstrom David J.,
Haskin Larry A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl010i009p00829
Subject(s) - norite , geology of the moon , geology , breccia , geochemistry , anorthosite , regolith , plagioclase , lunar soil , meteorite , astrobiology , mineralogy , igneous rock , basalt , physics , gabbro , paleontology , quartz
Seven subsamples of meteorite ALHA81005, a regolith breccia from the lunar highlands, were analyzed by INAA for 32 elements. Four of them were also studied petrographically. In bulk composition the rock corresponds to anorthositic norite with a very small component of KREEP and is very similar to estimates of average lunar highlands surface. Compositions of the white clasts and the dark matrix are similar, but the clasts are more magnesian and 30‐50% as rich in KREEP‐related elements. The white clasts have fine‐grained granulitic textures and are generally similar to Apollo 16 and 17 granulitic anorthositic norites, but are more magnesian and only 20% as rich in KREEP‐related elements. Some granulitic clasts are dominated by a magnesian anorthositic norite component not represented among the "pristine" Apollo samples.