Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
Experimental studies on the binary system FeTi2O5-MgTi2O5 yield unrealistically high values for the lower thermal stabilities of lunar armalcolites, since these typically contain 10-15 mole% (Al, Cr, Ti/3+/)2TiO5 components. Pure binary Fe0.5Mg0.5Ti2O5 begins to break down at 1010 + or - 20 C whereas Fe0.5Mg0.5Ti2O5)0.85(Ti2/3+/TiO5)0.15 persists to approximately 900 C and (Fe0.5Mg0.5Ti2O5)0.84(Al2TiO5)0.04(Cr2TiO5)0.03(Ti2/3+/TiO5)0.09 (a model Apollo 17 armalcolite) remains stable down at least to 850 C. The lower thermal stability of the model Apollo 17 armalcolite is raised by approximately 35 C per kilobar of load pressure. The breakdown curve intersects the solidus of likely source materials for high-Ti lunar basalts at 9-10 kbar; thus, the maximum depth at which this armalcolite is stable is 180-200 km. Subsolidus isochemical reaction of Ti/3+/ and Fe/2+/ components in armalcolite can yield rutile and metallic Fe. This assemblage could be misidentified as due to an externally imposed reduction.
Keywords:
LUNAR AND PLANETARY EXPLORATION
Type:
Lunar Science Conference; Mar 17, 1975 - Mar 21, 1975; Houston, TX
Format:
text
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