Summary
The mineralogy and petrology of three lithic fragments of alkalic highalumina basalt (Kreep) composition from the Apollo 12 coarse fines was studied in detail, using an electron microprobe, in order to gain insight into their crystallization histories. Most rocks of this composition are brecciated and our study indicates that a variety of environments of crystallization can be distinguished for mineral fragments and matrices. Mineral fragments are derived from members of the ANT suite (probably troctolites) in fragments 2 and 5, and the alkalic high-alumina basalt suite in fragment 3. The rocks from which they were derived were coarse-grained, recrystallized and equilibrated, as indicated by major, and especially, minor elements. Minor elements in plagioclase, olivine, pyroxene, and zircon are consistently lower in mineral fragments as compared with matrix minerals. The origin of large zircon fragments is problematic but they are probably from the alkalic high-alumina basalt suite. Mineral fragments may have been derived from plutonic rocks (none have yet been recognized from the alkalic high-alumina basalt suite), but possibly also from breccia fragments which were recrystallized in hot, thick ejecta blankets. The matrix of the lithic fragments is of alkalic high-alumina basalt composition and is either igneous or metamorphic, or both. Hence, lithic fragments 2 and 5 are polymict breccias whereas fragment 3 is a monomict breccia. Matrix glasses in fragments 2 and 3 represent melts fractionated along the orthopyroxeneplagioclase cotectic in the olivine-anorthite-silica pseudoternary system. If these liquids could be separated from the residuum and crystallized they would be, as yet, unrecognized members of the alkalic high-alumina basalt suite. The alkalic high-alumina basalt mixing component of fragment 5 (a polymict breccia) has such a composition and may be derived from such a fractionated rock. A mineral fragment of pyroxene intergrown with ilmenite, approximately parallel to (001), is interpreted as decorated shock lamellae rather than as a deep-seated intergrowth, as found in kimberlites. A glass coating on one side of fragment 3 has SiO2-rich and feldspathic schlieren and appears to be derived, by impact melting, from a rock of granite composition.
Zusammenfassung
Drei Gesteinsfragmente mit “alkalic high-alumina basalt” (Kreep) Chemismus aus der Grobraktion von Apollo 12 Bodenproben wurden mittels einer Elektronenstrahl-Mikrosonde einer detaillierten Studie unterzogen, um Einblick in ihre Genese zu gewinnen. Der überwiegende Teil von Gesteinen dieser Zusammensetzung ist brekziös und unsere Studie zeigt, daß unterschiedliche Kristallisationsbedingungen für die Mineralfragmente und Matrizes herrschten. Die Mineralfragmente in den Fragmenten 2 und 5 stammen von Gesteinen der ANT- (Anorthositisch-Noritisch-Troctolitischen) Reihe (wahrscheinlich von Troctoliten) und in Fragment 3 von Gesteinen der “alkalic high-alumina basalt”-Reihe.
Die Verteilung der Haupt- und Nebenelemente in den Mineralfragmenten zeigt, daß diese von rekristallisierten und equilibrierten, grobkörnigen Gesteinen stammen. Die Konzentrationen der Nebenelemente sind in allen Mineralfragmenten (Plagioklas, Olivin und Zirkon) deutlich geringer als in den Mineralen der Matrix. Die Herkunft der großen Zirkon-Fragmente ist nicht genau zu klären. Sie stammen jedoch wahrscheinlich von Gesteinen der “alkalic high-alumina basalt”-Reihe. Alle Mineralfragmente könnten von plutonischen Gesteinen stammen (solche sind von der “alkalic highalumina basalt”-Reihe zur Zeit noch nicht bekannt), sie könnten ihren Ursprung jedoch auch in prä-existenten Brekzien haben, welche in dichten, heißen Auswurfdecken rekristallisierten. Die Matrix der Gesteinsfragmente hat durchwegs eine “alkalic high-alumina basalt” Zusammensetzung und ist entweder magmatisch oder metamorph, oder beides. Die Fragmente 2 und 5 sind daher als polymikte und das Fragment 3 als monomikte Brekzie zu bezeichnen.
Die Matrixgläser in den fragmenten 2 und 3 repräsentieren Rest-schmelzen, welche entlang der Orthopyroxen-Plagioklas-Kotektik im Olivin-Anorthit-SiO2-System fraktionierten. Diese Schmelzen würden-könnten sie vom System getrennt werden-bisher noch nicht bekannte Glieder der “alkalic high-alumina basalt”-Reihe darstellen. Eine derartige Zusammensetzung hat jedoch die Mischkomponente im Fragment 5 (eine polymikte Brekzie), welche von einem auf diesem Wege fraktioniertem Gestein stammen könnte.
Ilmenit-Lamellen [subparallel zu (001)] in einem Pyroxenfragment stellen eher dekorierte Schocklamellen als Verwachsungen, wie sie aus Kimberliten bekannt sind, dar. Fragment 3 ist einseitig mit einem schlierigen Glas bedeckt, dessen Schlieren angenähert die Zusammensetzung von Alkalifeldspat und reinem SiO2 haben. Dieses Glas ist offensichtlich eine Impakt-Schmelze eines Gesteines von granitischer Zusammensetzung.
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Kurat, G., Keil, K. & Prinz, M. Petrology of some lithic fragments of alkalic high-alumina basalt composition from Apollo 12 coarse fines. TMPM Tschermaks Petr. Mitt. 21, 179–195 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01081030
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01081030