Lunar Ferroan Anorthosite Petrogenesis: Clues from Trace Element Distributions in FAN Subgroups

Petrography, mineralogy, and geochemistry of lunar meteorite Sayh al Uhaymir 300

“…15). The Ba concentration (∼50 ppm) of SaU 300 falls within the lower range observed in lunar meteorites and Apollo and Luna samples (Papike et al 1996(Papike et al , 1997Floss et al 1998;Cahill et al 2004) (Fig. 10b).…”

“…Plagioclase in C-1 has the highest REE content (La ∼22 × CI) while C-6 has the lowest REE content (La ∼0.8 × CI). Most plagioclase grains in SaU 300 have REE abundances and patterns that are in excellent agreement with those of plagioclase from FAN suite rocks (Papike et al 1997;Floss et al 1998). One grain in C-1 has a slightly higher REE content than average plagioclase from FAN suite rocks.…”

“…Olivine grains in C-1 have the highest REE content (Gd ∼1 × CI, Lu ∼10 × CI) and the olivine grains in C-6 have the lowest REE content (Gd ∼0.1 × CI, Lu ∼2 × CI). The REE pattern and compositional range of olivine in SaU 300 are similar to those of olivine from FAN suite rocks (Floss et al 1998).…”

“…High-Ca pyroxene has a higher REE content (La 1-25 × CI, Lu 50-60 × CI) than low-Ca pyroxene (Lu 10-30 × CI). The REE abundances and patterns of pyroxene grains in SaU 300 are similar to those of pyroxenes from FAN and HMS (Papike et al 1997;Floss et al 1998).…”

“…Ba and Sr positively correlate with REEs in plagioclase of FAN rocks and lunar highlands meteorites (Papike et al 1997;Floss et al 1998;Cahill et al 2004). The correlation between Ba and Ce is stronger than that of Sr and Ce (Fig.…”