Fact sheet
70315 is a coarse-grained, vesicular basalt. Large pyroxene grains poikilitically enclose plagioclase feldspar and ilmenite. The pyroxene is particularly notable for its compositional zoning and wavy extinction (rotation 1). Olivine and cristobalite (see rotation 2) are present in low abundance. Our thin section is slightly thick.
The sample weighed 148.6 grams before analysis and has not been dated, although Apollo 17 mare basalts are generally considered to be 3.72±0.04 billion years old.
Further details of this and other Apollo samples are here: http://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/lunar/
Apollo 17, the final manned landing mission, had two objectives: to obtain samples of ancient rocks from the lunar highlands and to look for evidence of younger volcanic activity on the valley floor.
This small Collection contains material deriving from both periods, including igneous rocks around 4.3 billion years old from the lunar highlands as well as younger volcanic samples dating from about 3.6 billion years ago.
Apollo 17 was launched on 7 December 1972.