Other
Scientific paper
May 1996
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996m%26ps...31..356h&link_type=abstract
Meteoritics and Planetary Science, Vol. 31, p. 356-361 (1996)
Other
4
Scientific paper
Remote sensing studies are the primary means of solar system exploration. In particular, spectral reflectance measurements involve determinations of the nature and compositions of other worlds through analysis of absorption features characteristic of the surface chemistry and mineralogy. These studies are particularly applicable to "airless" solar system bodies (e.g., the Moon), because atmospheres, such as on Earth, tend to interfere with the reflectance spectrum. The precision of the spectral measurements is greatly increased by calibration with actual lunar soils. In the past, these calibrations were done using particle-counting data collected for the study of soil formation processes, soil classification, and provenance determination. These particle counting data, while valuable in those areas of study, neither identify the true volume percentages of soil particles, nor give the true modal values for the various phases (i. e., minerals and glasses) which make up the soil grains. These data are paramount for accurate spectral reflectance calibrations. Therefore, in this paper, a new technique is presented that involves x-ray digital-imaging of lunar soils using an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) on an electron microprobe. In contrast to particle counting with an optical microscope, the digital-imaging method allows precise volume percentages of soil grains to be determined, including absolute modal abundances of the various phases locked within the particles as well as their chemistry. In order to validate this method for characterization of lunar soils, the technique was applied to four Apollo 17 soils that were previously described by Heiken and McKay (1974) via particle counts with an optical microscope, and similar results were obtained. In addition to verifying the x-ray digital-imaging technique, the obtained data were applied in order to better understand the lunar-soil formational process, specifically the variation of particle types with maturity.
Chambers John G.
Higgins Stefan J.
McKay David S.
Patchen Allan
Taylor Lawrence A.
No associations
LandOfFree
X-ray digital-imaging petrography: Technique development for lunar mare soils does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with X-ray digital-imaging petrography: Technique development for lunar mare soils, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and X-ray digital-imaging petrography: Technique development for lunar mare soils will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1418732