Fact sheet
72558 is a clast-bearing impact melt breccia with high trace element content. It has a crystalline matrix with microgranular-micropoikilitic texture. Mineral and lithic clasts occur in equal abundances. Pink spinel is noted in this sample but does not appear to be present in our thin section. Rotation 1 shows mineral and lithic clasts and rotation 2 shows clasts of olivine, pyroxene and plagioclase feldspar.
The sample weighed 5.71 grams before analysis. A dating attempt was unsuccessful.
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.