Petrochemistry and Chemical Features of Lunar Glassy Spherules

Abstract

The major elements of glassy spherules from samples 12001.73, 12057.60 and 12070.37 of lunar fines have been determined by electron probe analysis. The bulk chemistry of these spherules (which are between 200 μm and 62 μm in size) falls in most cases within the range of gabbro-peridotite and gabbro-anorthosite.In individual spherules, the grade of chemical homogeneity is highly variable and can be related to the possible presence of small inclusions or sometimes to slight concentration gradients evident near the peripheries of the particles. These features, together with the presence of vesicles of different size in association with strong alkali enrichment along the boundaries of such cavities can account for relationships between the chemistry of the particles and their genetic history.