Molybdenum, Iron, Ilmenite

SEM image of the fragment of lunar impact silicate glass particle from coarse fraction of regolith. Bright in BSE rounded grain in the center is the large native Molybdenum agregate. Some more to the right large tabular crystal of Ilmenite submerged in glass is visible. Bright sharp particle more left from the molybdenum grain is composed by Iron (without any Ni or Co). Two the leftmost medium bright particles are unidentified ZrNbTi-bearing Fe-silicate. Very interesting formation is visible in the upper part of the picture - this is binary film composed by native Molybdenum covered by O-bearing carboniferous substance uncertain nature. Similar binary films were described in the article Mokhov A.V., Kartashov P.M., e.a. (2007) Association of carbon-rich substance and native molybdenum in lunar regolith from Mare Crisium,- Doklady Earth Sciences, 415A(6), pp. 926-928. Collection of Lunar regolith belonging to IGEM RAS. Andrei V. Mokhov photo.

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Photo added: 5th Jul 2008