78599 (6) Ilmenite Basalt
Collection:
Apollo 17
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MicroscopeFact sheet
78599 (6) Ilmenite Basalt
78599 is a fine-grained, olivine-microporphyritic ilmenite basalt (similar to 71569 and 71577) that was collected as part of a rake sample. It has a variolitic groundmass with occasional olivine phenocrysts. Ilmenite is acicular (rotations 1 & 2) and olivine is often embayed. Pyroxene is chemically zoned in a manner similar to 71569. Armalcolite and up to 5% silica have also been reported. The sample weighed 198 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.