Exsolution in terrestrial and lunar plagioclases revealed by chemical etching

Abstract

A new chemical etching technique reveals fine scale exsolution structures on polished surfaces of plagioclases in the bytownite and labradorite range. A very obvious blue and locally brown stain is produced (by the action of citric acid) in growth zones of a restricted range of compositions on etched surfaces. The blue-stained zones contain very fine grooves, corresponding to the traces of thin exsolution lamellae. Exsolution features have been revealed in this way in plagioclases in a terrestrial diabase, lunar basalts and an amphibolite. Compositions of the exsolved areas found by microprobe analysis represent averages of the matrix and exsolution lamellae. Analytical methods with higher spatial resolution are required to determine the composition of the lamellae. This etching method permits easy optical identification of compositional zoning and of fine scale exsolution over relatively large areas and is therefore complementary to other techniques.