Fact sheet
76136 is an ilmenite basalt with olivine phenocrysts. Elongate ilmenite and equant olivine crystals are set in a holocrystalline intersertal matrix. Olivine is surrounded by pyroxene and in the example shown in rotation 2 it also contains a rounded melt inclusion of dark glass. Rotation 2 shows a pyroxene crystal with wavy extinction due to strain. Troilite and metallic iron blebs are visible in reflected light.
The sample weighed 86.6 grams before analysis and has not been dated.
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.