Petrogenesis of lunar meteorite EET 96008

Abstract

Lunar meteorite EET 96008 is a fragmental breccia that predominantly consists of basaltic mineral clasts (0.5–2 mm), along with minor lithic fragments and breccia clasts. The matrix consists mainly of smaller mineral fragments (<0.5 mm), bound by glassy cement, the majority of which are pyroxene and plagioclase. The pyroxene possesses extensive exsolution lamellae. These lamellae, up to 1 μm in width, are atypical for mare-basalts. One of the distinguishing textures of EET 96008 is the presence of small pockets (∼400 × 500 μm) of mesostasis areas consisting of coarse (∼20 μm) intergrowths of ferroaugite, fayalite and Si-rich glass. Laths of ilmenite, armalcolite, apatite and whitlockite are also distributed in these areas. Ilmenite grains are abundant and dispersed throughout the thin sections. Chromite and ulvöspinel are present but in minor abundance. Troilite, generally rare in this rock, occurs as several grains in one pyroxene crystal. FeNi metal is conspicuously absent from this meteorite. The molar Fe/Mn ratio in olivines and pyroxenes and the age of the meteorite are evidence for a lunar origin. The mineralogy of EET 96008 shows close affinity to a mare-basalt source, albeit with possible minor highland/non-mare components. The bulk-rock, major-, trace- and rare-earth-element (REE) contents are similar to that of very low-titanium (VLT) basalts, which have experienced extreme fractional crystallization to the point of silicate liquid immiscibility. Mineralogical and textural features of this sample suggest that at least some of the breccia components were derived from a slow-cooled magma. The mineralogy and petrology of EET 96008 is strikingly similar to the lunar meteorite EET 87521, and we support the conclusion that EET 96008 and EET 87521 should be paired. Isochron ages of 3530 ± 270 Ma for apatite and 3519 ± 100 Ma for whitlockite of this rock are consistent with derivation from a mare-basalt precursor. These ages are within error of the low-Ti basalts, dated from the Apollo 12 and 15 sites. The whole-rock, platinum-group-element (PGE) contents of EET 96008 overlap with pristine low-Ti mare basalts, suggesting the presence of only a minimal extraterrestrial component.