Mineralogical Analysis of Lunar Rock Particles

Abstract

Mössbauer measurements on 57Fe in a series of LUNA-16 and LUNA-20 coarsegrain (mostly containing two distinct minerals) as well as fine-grain rock fragments have been performed. The diameter of the particles ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 mm ; a device for their reproducible adjustment and centering has been developed. In the Mossbauer spectra up to 3 split (magnetic or quadrupole) components were resolved, the comparison of whose splittings with the terrestrial standards revealed the presence of ilmenite, olivine, pyroxene, metallic phase and a spinel. The gained area distribution in the spectra made it possible to perform a semi-quantitative mineralogical analysis of the iron abundances in the samples