Search for Magnetite in Lunar Rocks and Fines

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Magnetite crystals larger than 2 micrometers are absent from rocks and fines. Smaller opaque spheres in the fines can tentatively be identified as magnetite. Their concentration is not higher than 1 × 10 -6 particle per particle smaller than 1 millimeter. In the fines from the sampling site, the contribution of material similar to type 1 carbonaceous meteorites is insignificant, either because it never existed, or because it was evaporated or comminuted by impact or was diluted by indigenous material. Other magnetite habits typical of carbonaceous meteorites or possibly of cosmic dust or comets were also sought without success—such as rods, platelets, framboids, spherulites, and idiomorphic crystals.