Sample 63548

– 1.1 grams – 0.4 grams – 2 grams Impact Melt Breccia

Figure 1: Photo of 63548. Mm scale. S80-37443

Figure 2: Photo of 63539. Mm scale. S80-37437

Figure 3: Photo of 63586 with mm scale. S80-37439

Introduction Chemistry 63548, and its cousins 63539 and 63586, were collected Stoffler et al. (1985) reported the chemical composition as rake samples from station 13, near North Ray Crater. (table 1), which is highly aluminous. They are fragments of fine-grained, coherent impact melt. Processing

Phinney and Lofgren (1973) and Ryder and Norman (1980) briefly described the samples. They have abundant, rounded clasts of anorthite set in an aphanitic matrix (figures 4 and 5).

There are 2 thin sections of each sample. Petrography

Lunar Sample Compendium C Meyer 2012

Figure 4: Photomicrograph of thin section 63548,6. Width 2 mm. From Ryder and Norman 1980.

References for 63548, 539 and 586

Butler P. (1972a) Lunar Sample Information Catalog Apollo 16. Lunar Receiving Laboratory. MSC 03210 Curator’s Catalog. pp. 370.

LSPET (1973b) The Apollo 16 lunar samples: Petrographic and chemical description. Science 179, 23-34.

LSPET (1972c) Preliminary examination of lunar samples. In Apollo 16 Preliminary Science Report. NASA SP-315, 7-1—7-58.

Phinney W. and Lofgren G. (1973) Description, classification and inventory of Apollo 16 rake samples from stations 1, 4 and 13. Curators Office.

Ryder G. and Norman M.D. (1980) Catalog of Apollo 16 rocks (3 vol.). Curator’s Office pub. #52, JSC #16904

Stöffler D., Ostertag R., Reimold W.U., Borchardt R., Malley J. and Rehfeldt A. (1981) Distribution and provenance of lunar highland rock types at North Ray Crater, Apollo 16. Proc. 12th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 185-207.

Stöffler D., Bischoff A., Borchardt R., Burghele A., Deutsch A., Jessberger E.K., Ostertag R., Palme H., Spettel B.,

Figure 5: Photomicrograph of thin section 63539,7. Width 2 mm. From Ryder and Norman 1980.

Reimold W.U., Wacker K. and Wanke H. (1985) Composition and evolution of the lunar crust in the Descartes highlands. Proc. 15th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. in J. Geophys. Res. 90, C449-C506.

Sutton R.L. (1981) Documentation of Apollo 16 samples. In Geology of the Apollo 16 area, central lunar highlands. (Ulrich et al. ) U.S.G.S. Prof. Paper 1048.

Table 1. Chemical composition of 63548

	63548	63539	63586
reference	Stoffler85
weight
SiO2 %	43.3	44.5	43.8	(a)
TiO2	0.43	0.33	0.42	(a)
Al2O3	31.6	31.7	32.2	(a)
FeO	3.5	2.8	3.2	(a)
MnO	0.02	0.04	0.05	(a)
MgO	3.2	2.47	2.8	(a)
CaO	17.2	17.5	16.9	(a)
Na2O	0.55	0.52	0.54	(a)
K2O	0.04	0.04	0.04	(a)
P2O5	0.05	0.06	0.03	(a)