[meteorite-list] Lunar Anorth(os)ites

[bernd.pauli at paulinet.de]

Hi Dan, Mike J., "Lunatic" Norbert ;-), and List,

Dan, welcome to the List, to the Listees, the Listoids, etc.

Norbert already clued us in, Randy, the expert, may chime in soon,
so here are some references that obviously prove both varieties do
exist:

1. Anorthosite:

(= granular plutonic rock composed largely of labradorite or a more calcic feldspar)

HAWKE B.R. et al. (1995) Remote sensing studies of anorthosite
deposits on the Moon (abs. Meteoritics 30, 518).

PETERSON C.A. et al. (1997) Spacecraft and groundbased identification
of lunar anorthosite (Meteoritics 32-4, 1997, A106).

SHERVAIS J. et al. (1997) Petrogenesis of alkali-suite anorthosites and norites
in the Western lunar highlands: Flotation cumulates from pristine KREEP, magma
mixing and assimilation of older anorthosite (Meteoritics 32-4, 1997, A119).

A.S.M. Arribas (1994) Some Remarks on Terrestrial and Lunar Anorthosite
Textures and their Petrogenetic Significance (Meteoritics 29-4, 1994, A528).

NORMAN M.D. et al. (2003) Chronology, geochemistry, and petrology of a ferroan
noritic anorthosite clast from Descartes breccia 67215: Clues to the age, origin,
structure, and impact history of the lunar crust (MAPS 38-4, 2003, pp. 645-661).

2. Anorthite:

BORG L. et al. (1997) A relatively young samarium-neodymium age of 4.36 Ga
for ferroan anorthite 62236 (Meteoritics 32-4, 1997, A018).

BISCHOFF A. et al. (1997) Dar al Gani 262: The first lunar meteorite from the
Sahara (Meteoritics 32, 1997, A013): Plagioclase in the bulk rock is anorthite
(mostly An>95).

BUKOVANSKA M. et al. (1999) Dar al Gani 400: Petrology and
geochemistry of some major lithologies (MAPS 34-4, 1999, A021):

Two hornfelsic (granulitic) textures are present:

(1) anorthite laths with interstitial olivine and pyroxene, no metals and troilite; and
(2) pyroxene more frequent than olivine between anorthite laths.

Best regards,

Bernd