Petrology and comparative thermal and mechanical histories of clasts in breccia 62236

Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
By:  and 

Links

Abstract

Lunar breccia 62236 contains large lithic fragments of troctolite, norite, and anorthosite. The mafic phases, olivine, inverted pigeonite, and augite, fill interstitial areas between larger plagioclases and appear to be cumulate phases with extensive adcumulus growth. Pyroxene compositional homogeneity indicates that cation exchange during cooling was limited to an area of about 1 mm. Primary augite and pigeonite both contain 30 μm-wide lamellae of the other along ‘001’. Pigeonite inverted to orthopyroxene without retaining any crystallographic orientation and subsequently exsolved fine lamellae of augite on (100). Profiles across orthopyroxene-augite interfaces obtained in the analytical transmission electron microscope show an increase of ∼5% wollastonite in augite within 0.5 μm of the interface, suggesting that short-range cation exchange continued to temperatures below 500°C. The entire sample has undergone heterogeneous shock deformation. Shock melting of the troctolitic clast suggests pressures of 200–300 kb and well-developed basal twinning in augite from the norite clasts suggests pressures of 50–300 kbars. The present evidence indicates that 62236 contains parts of a slowly cooled microlayered adcumulate that has been heterogeneously shocked several times and combined into the present breccia.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Petrology and comparative thermal and mechanical histories of clasts in breccia 62236
Series title Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
DOI 10.1029/JB088iS02p0A645
Volume 88
Issue S02
Year Published 1983
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Description 13 p.
First page A645
Last page A657
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details