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Lunar soil

About: Lunar soil is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2412 publications have been published within this topic receiving 41801 citations.


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01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a new model of distribution of submillimeter sized lunar soil grains on the lunar surface, which is perturbed by ejecta deposition of larger grains.
Abstract: Introduction. We propose a new model of distribution of submillimeter sized lunar soil grains on the lunar surface. We propose that in the uppermost millimeter or two of the lunar surface, soil-grains are size graded with the finest nanoscale dust on top and larger micron-scale particles below. This standard state is perturbed by ejecta deposition of larger grains at the lunar surface, which have a coating of dusty layer that may not have substrates of intermediate sizes. Distribution of solar wind elements (SWE), agglutinates, vapor deposited nanophase Fe0 in size fractions of lunar soils and ir spectra of size fractions of lunar soils are compatible with this model. A direct test of this model requires bringing back glue-impregnated tubes of lunar soil samples to be dissected and examined on Earth.
Journal ArticleDOI
17 Dec 1971-Nature
TL;DR: The tendency of the soil in Oceanus Procellarum to break into clods when disturbed was recognized from Surveyor 1 photographs as mentioned in this paper, and this tendency was confirmed by photographs made by the Apollo 12 astronauts of the areas disturbed by Surveyor 3.
Abstract: THE tendency of lunar soil to break into clods when disturbed was recognized from Surveyor 1 photographs1,2. Pictures of disturbances produced in bearing tests with the Surveyor 3 soil mechanics surface sampler3 suggested to some observers that the soil layer in Oceanus Procellarum tends to crack into thin flat “tiles” (Figs, 1a and 2a) and, therefore, that it consists of a thin, rather rigid crust over a softer substrate. Pictures of areas disturbed by the Apollo 11 closeup camera in Mare Tranquillitatis (Fig. 3a) and by the Apollo 12 lunar module descent engine in Oceanus Procellarum conveyed a similar impression4,5. None of the authors of these works were misled, and, indeed, they warned against this interpretation3–5. Nevertheless, photographs made by the Apollo 12 astronauts of the areas disturbed by Surveyor 3 help to clarify the matter.
Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1970-Nature
TL;DR: In this article, a partial explanation for the lack of finer particles in the Moon's soil is proposed. But it is based on wear theory, and not on the theory that the finer particles are missing in lunar soil because materials in a lunar environment have a higher surface energy.
Abstract: WHEN Duke et al.1 measured the size of lunar soil returned by Apollo 11, they found a size distribution similar to that of glacial till and other terrestrial soil, except that the lunar soil is noticeably deficient in material finer than 15 µm. They feel that a partial explanation for this deficiency is that it is caused by melting and consequent consolidation into clumps of finer particles on the Moon. We wish to suggest another partial explanation, derived from wear theory—it is that the finer particles are missing in lunar soil because materials in a lunar environment have a higher surface energy.

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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
202337
202262
202134
202047
201940
201840