Premium
METEORITIC METAL IN APOLLO 16 SAMPLES
Author(s) -
Reed S. J. B.,
Taylor S. R.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
meteoritics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 0026-1114
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.1974.tb00060.x
Subject(s) - kamacite , meteorite , geology , electron microprobe , troilite , lunar soil , iron meteorite , nickel , chondrite , metal , geology of the moon , lunar mare , geochemistry , astrobiology , mineralogy , cobalt , basalt , materials science , metallurgy , physics
One hundred metallic particles from Apollo 16 soils (61181, 65701) and rocks (60018, 60315, 66055) have been investigated microscopically and by electron microprobe analysis. Their cobalt content indicates a meteoritic origin for all but one particle. However, most contain more phosphorus than typical meteoritic metal, possibly due to the reduction of phosphates in the lunar rocks. Compositions of coexisting kamacite and schreibersite indicate temperatures of about 550–650°C which are thought to have occurred during metamorphism. The bulk nickel content of the lunar metal is somewhat low by comparison with most iron meteorites or the metallic component of common stony meteorites. However, this may be due to compositional changes that occurred after emplacement in the lunar surface layer.