Gas-hydrodynamic analysis of the genesis of green and orange glasses in lunar rocks

Abstract

In order to elucidate the genesis of green and orange glasses in Apollo 15 and Apollo 17 samples of lunar rocks, two alternative hypotheses are analyzed, according to which the glasses are produced either (1) by a comet or meteorite impact (impact model) or (2) by volcanic activity (volcanic model). The green and orange glasses are clearly genetically and petrochemically autonomous, i.e., the composition of the glasses themselves differs from those of the major types of the primary rocks. The mechanisms responsible for the origin of the glasses are analyzed along with mathematical models of their genesis. The theoretically calculated size distribution of glass particles is in good agreement with those measured in Apollo 15 and Apollo 17 samples. Simulation results and the analysis of the composition and structure of the green and orange glasses lead to the conclusion that the impact hypothesis of their genesis is the most realistic.