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Shock-metamorphic effects in the Luna-16 soil sample from Mare FecunditatisThe results of intensive studies indicate that shock-metamorphic effects, characteristic of meteorite impact and virtually identical to those observed in Apollo samples, are common in fragments of the Luna-16 soil sample from Mare Fecunditatis. Two types of shock effects are present: (1) deformation and partial melting features in rock and mineral fragments (1-2 percent of fragments); and (2) heterogeneous glasses and glassy breccias produced by shock melting (70-80 percent of fragments). Shock effects were observed in pyroxene (deformation twin lamellae, multiple planar shock lamellae, extreme mosaicism, partial isotropization); in plagioclase (planar shock lamellae, complete isotropization to form maskelynite); and in basalt fragments (plagioclase isotropization, selective partial melting). The glasses exhibit several characteristics of shock melting, especially: (1) diversity in chemical composition; (2) association with shock mineral fragments and Ni-Fe spherules; and (3) heterogeneous schlieren and incipient fusion of mineral inclusions. Two types of source rocks are present in the Luna-16 sample; basaltic (85-90 percent) and feldspathic (10-15 percent). The basaltic rocks are predominant and generally occur as unshocked fragments, indicating that they form the bedrock underlying Mare Fecunditatis.
Document ID
19720010258
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
French, B. M. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 2, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1971
Subject Category
Space Sciences
Report/Patent Number
X-644-71-471
NASA-TM-X-65805
Accession Number
72N17908
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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