Apollo 15 yellow impact glasses: Chemistry, petrology, and exotic origin

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JB087iS01p0A159· OSTI ID:6213201

Delano, J W; Lindsley, D H; Ma, M; Schmitt, R A

The Apollo 15 yellow impact glasses are characterized by moderate TiO/sub 2/ (approx.4.8%) and high abundances of the large ion lithophile elements (e.g., K, P, Hf, Th, REE). Since the chemistry of these glasses cannot be duplicated by any combination of local components presently known to occur at the Apollo 15 landing site, these yellow glasses seem to be exotic to that area. Chemical and petrologic constraints suggest that these samples were produced by impact melting of an immature mare regolith developed upon an unusual variety of mare basalt. We speculate that the target basalt were the youngest lava flows known to exist on the moon (i.e., Eratosphenian-age lavas in Oceanus Procellarum and Mare Imbrium). Specific tests are proposed for evaluating this provocative hypothesis.

• Research Organization: Department of Earth and Space Sciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794
• OSTI ID: 6213201
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 87:S1; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
APOLLO PROJECT
CHEMISTRY
GEOLOGY
GLASS
IMPACT SHOCK
LUNAR MATERIALS
MATERIALS
ORIGIN
PETROLOGY