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Derivation of FEO Abundances in Lunar Pyroclastic Deposits Using DivinerTelescopic observations and orbital images of the Moon reveal at least 75 lunar pyroclastic deposits (LPDs), interpreted as the products of explosive volcanic eruptions [1]. The deposits are understood to be composed primarily of sub-millimeter beads of basaltic composition, ranging from glassy to partially-crystallized [2]. Delano [3] documented 25 distinct pyroclastic bead compositions in lunar soil samples, with a range of FeO abundances from 16.5 - 24.7 wt%. Green glasses generally have lower FeO abundances and red, yellow, and orange glasses generally have higher FeO abundances. The current study employs data from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) to derive the FeO compositions of glasses from unsampled lunar pyroclastic deposits. The pyroclastic glasses are the deepest-sourced and most primitive basalts on the Moon [4]. Recent analyses have documented the presence of water in these glasses, demonstrating that the lunar interior is considerably more volatile-rich than previously understood [5]. Experiments have shown that the iron-rich pyroclastic glasses release the highest percentage of oxygen of any Apollo soils, making these deposits promising lunar resources [6].
Document ID
20120001825
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Allen, Carlton C. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Greenhagen, Benjamin T. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
DonaldsonHanna, Kerri L. (Brown Univ. Providence, RI, United States)
Oehler, Dorothy Z. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Paige, David A. (California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2012
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-25614
Meeting Information
Meeting: 43rd Lunar aud Plauetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 19, 2012
End Date: March 23, 2012
Sponsors: Lunar and Planetary Inst.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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