The optical properties of the finest fraction of lunar soil: Implications for space weathering
Sarah K. Noble,Carle M. Pieters,Lawrence A. Taylor,Richard V. Morris,Carlton C. Allen,David S. McKay,Lindsay P. Keller +6 more
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In this paper, the spectral properties of the fine fraction of the Moon's soil have been studied and the results show that the finest fraction appears to be enriched in weathering products relative to the larger size fractions.Abstract:
The fine fraction of lunar soils ( dominates the optical properties of the bulk soil. Definite trends can be seen in optical properties of size separates with decreasing particle size: diminished spectral contrast and a steeper continuum slope. These trends are related to space weathering processes and their affects on different size fractions. The finest fraction (defined here as the <1 Opm fraction) appears to be enriched in weathering products relative to the larger size fractions, as would be expected for surface correlated processes. This 40 ,um fraction tends to exhibit very little spectral contrast, often with no distinguishable ferrous iron absorption bands. Additionally, the finest fractions of highland soils are observed to have very different spectral properties than the equivalent fraction of mare soils when compared with larger size fractions. The spectra of the finest fraction of feldspathic soils flatten at longer wavelengths, whereas those of the finest fraction of basaltic soils continue to increase in a steep, almost linear fashion. This compositional distinction is due to differences in the total amount of nanophase iron that accumulates in space weathering products. Such ground-truth information derived from the <I0 pm fraction of lunar soils provides valuable insight into optical properties to be expected in other space weathering environments such as the asteroids and Mercury.read more
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Space weathering from Mercury to the asteroid belt
TL;DR: In this paper, a mathematical theory that describes the optical and magnetic effects of the sub-microscopic iron quantitatively is derived and applied to the regoliths of the Moon, Mercury and an S asteroid.
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Understanding the Lunar Surface and Space-Moon Interactions
Paul G. Lucey,Randy L. Korotev,Jeffrey J. Gillis,Lawrence A. Taylor,David J. Lawrence,Bruce A. Campbell,R. C. Elphic,Bill Feldman,Lon L. Hood,Donald M. Hunten,Michael Mendillo,Sarah K. Noble,James J. Papike,Robert C. Reedy,S. L. Lawson,Thomas H. Prettyman,Olivier Gasnault,Sylvestre Maurice +17 more
TL;DR: The surface of the Moon is a critical boundary that shapes our understanding of the entire Moon as a whole as discussed by the authors, and it is the lower boundary layer of the tenuous lunar atmosphere and constitutes both a source and a sink for atmospheric gases.
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Lunar surface: Dust dynamics and regolith mechanics
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the mechanical response of the regolith to anticipated exploration activities and review the plasma environment near the lunar surface and the observations, models, and dynamics of charged lunar dust.
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Lunar Mare Soils: Space weathering and the major effects of surface‐correlated nanophase Fe
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that as grain size of a soil decreases, the percentage of the total iron present as nanophase-sized Fe0 increases dramatically, while the agglutinitic glass content rises only slightly.
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An experimental approach to understanding the optical effects of space weathering
TL;DR: In this paper, a suite of analog soils were used to explore the optical effects of nanophase iron (nFe(sup 0) on lunar soils. But, the results of these controlled experiments have implications for space-weathered material throughout the inner solar system, since cumulative space weathering products throughout the solar system will be very dependent on the specific environmental conditions under which they were produced.
References
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Optical effects of space weathering: The role of the finest fraction
TL;DR: In this article, Spectroscopic analyses of agglutinate separates and size fractions for a suite of lunar soils were performed and it was shown that the accumulation of dark glass-welded aggregates (agglutinates) has not fully account for the optical effects of space weathering on lunar soils.
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Strength of mineral absorption features in the transmitted component of near‐infrared reflected light: First results from RELAB
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of particle size, mineral mixtures, and viewing geometry for selected materials with well-developed absorption bands were analyzed using a new laboratory facility, the RELAB.
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Spectral reflectance 0.4 to 2.0 microns of silicate rock powders.
John B. Adams,Alan L. Filice +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the spectral reflectance properties of the 0.4-to 2.0-μ wavelength region were analyzed and classified as crystalline basic-ultrabasic or crystalline acid-rich.
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Effects of vapor-phase deposition processes on the optical, chemical, and magnetic properties OE the lunar regolith
TL;DR: In this article, the physical and chemical properties of materials deposited from vapors generated by hydrogen-ion sputtering and thermal evaporation of lunar and artificial ferrosilicates were investigated.
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Darkening in black and gas-rich ordinary chondrites: The spectral effects of opaque morphology and distribution
Daniel T. Britt,Carle M. Pieters +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify two types of darkened ordinary chondrites, the black chondrite and the gas-rich chondritic meteorite, which show reduced reflectance, a modest red continuum slope, and subdued absorption features that can make mineral identification challenging.