These images were taken in cross polarized incident
(reflected) light at a magnification of 700X of a
polished (uncovered) thin section. This material is
very glassy and tough to photograph.
Abstract:
Studies of lunar meteorite Dhofar 026, and
comparison to Apollo sample 15418, indicate that
Dhofar 026 is a strongly shocked granulitic breccia
(or a fragmental breccia consisting almost entirely
of granulitic breccia clasts) that experienced
considerable post-shock heating, probably as a
result of diffusion of heat into the rock from an
external, hotter source. The shock converted
plagioclase to maskelynite, indicating that the
shock pressure was between 30 and 45 GPa. The
post-shock heating raised the rock's temperature to
about 1200 °C; as a result, the maskelynite
devitrified, and extensive partial melting took
place. The melting was concentrated in pyroxene-rich
areas; all pyroxene melted. As the rock cooled, the
partial melts crystallized with fine-grained,
subophitic-poikilitic textures. Sample 15418 is a
strongly shocked granulitic breccia that had a
similar history, but evidence for this history is
better preserved than in Dhofar 026. The fact that
Dhofar 026 was previously interpreted as an impact
melt breccia underscores the importance of detailed
petrographic study in interpretation of lunar rocks
that have complex textures. The name "impact melt"
has, in past studies, been applied only to rocks in
which the melt fraction formed by shock-induced
total fusion. Recently, however, this name has also
been applied to rocks containing melt formed by
heating of the rocks by conductive heat transfer,
assuming that impact is the ultimate source of the
heat. We urge that the name "impact melt" be
restricted to rocks in which the bulk of the melt
formed by shock-induced fusion to avoid confusion
engendered by applying the same name to rocks melted
by different processes.
Petrology and mineral-chemistry of lunar highlands
meteorite Dhofar 026 show that it is a crystalline
impact melt of FAN-type material. Crystalline
spherules within the meteorite are earlier impact
melt fragments derived from a basaltic precursor.