Mineralogic and Petrologic Study of Lunar Anorthosite Slide 15415,18

Abstract

The anorthosite slide 15415,18 contains 98 percent subhedral plagioclase (97 mole percent anorthite), two pyroxenes: diopsidic augite (46 percent wollastonite, 39 percent enstatite, 16 percent ferrosilite) with subsidiary (100) lamellae and grains of hypersthene (2.5 percent wollastonite, 58 percent enstatite, 39.5 percent ferrosilite), and traces of ilmenite. The pyroxene occurs interstitial to, and as small grains enclosed within, plagioclase. The textures and compositions of the phases appear compatible with an origin by concentration and adcumulus growth of plagioclase from a gabbroic anorthosite (or hyperaluminous) magma in a "plutonic" environment.