78585 (4) Vitrophyric Basalt
Collection:
Apollo 17
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MicroscopeFact sheet
78585 (4) Vitrophyric Basalt
78585 is an aphanitic basalt that was collected as part of a rake sample. 78585 has an opaque matrix with about 10% skeletal olivine (rotation 1) and 20-30% thin skeletal opaques (ilmenite or armalcolite) set in black glass. The sample weighed 44.6 grams before analysis and has not been dated. Further details of this and other Apollo samples are here: http://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/lunar/ |
About this collection
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.