Chemistry and surface morphology of soil particles from Luna 20 LRL sample 22003

Abstract

Six siliceous glass spheres, five siliceous glass-bonded agglutinates and one breccia fragment from Luna 20 LRL sample number 22003 were analyzed by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, scanning electron microprobe and energy-dispersive techniques. The data suggest that most of the glass spheres were probably derived locally by meteoritic impact processes and that most craters on their surfaces may have occurred from impacts of relatively high velocity particles in the impact-produced debris cloud while the glass sphere was at elevated temperatures. This is suggested by the nature of the craters, the partially buried fragments of plagioclase surrounded by radiating fractures and by the apparent absence of craters on the glass surfaces of the glass-bonded agglutinates. One glass sphere has a surface suggestive of a complex multiple impact origin involving liquid siliceous material and numerous siliceous spherules from 0.1 μm to 1 μm in diameter that may have formed from vaporization and condensation processes possibly in a relatively large scale meteoritic impact event. The surfaces of the siliceous glass spheres have several different types of materials. Concentration of metallic iron spherules on the surfaces of the glass spheres is generally lower than for similar Apollo 11 and 12 glass spheres. This is consistent with reduction processes being of primary importance in the formation of this metallic iron. Surface material composed only of Ca, C and O 2, possibly CaCO 3, is probably derived from carbonaceous chondrites. Splashes of material rich in Ca, Al, Fe, K and Cl occur. The origin of the relatively low temperature chlorine-bearing melt is unknown but it may be related to vaporization and condensation processes, possibly volcanic in nature, or possibly to partial fusion of components of carbonaceous chondrites. Siliceous surface material rich in potassium may represent either fused splash material of granitic composition or material enriched by vaporization and condensation processes.