199601

BCC9601 - Lunar Highlands Surface Crust

Important:
    If you were sent here via a link from Dr. Randy Korotev of Washington University in St. Louis, please be aware that the document he created represents pseudo-science of the highest order and is completely politically motivated. Political motivation is defined here as; "a need to advance an agenda of scientific misconduct, greed, fraud, and discrimination using science and the academic arena as an operational nerve center". We have already dissected, debunked, and discredited his linked non-scientific document(s) and posted the results on SCIFRAUD.
    I informed Dr. Korotev, "you have a very narrow and fraudulent view of lunar chemistry" (surface and subsurface). Dr. Korotev responded with an apology to BCC Meteorites for his scientific misconduct and attempted fraud on WIKIPEDIA. He did not deny the allegations lodged against him regarding lunar chemistry!
     In essence, Dr. Korotev and a small band of rogue (unsupervised) scientists have constructed a shallow mold to fit their vision of all lunar materials. This short-sighted and faulty vision was shattered by BCC Meteorites as far back as 2002, when we verified Taylor's (HIGP) lunar surface chemistry weaned from the extensive Clementine: Lunar Surface Data Mapping Project. We apologize to the public and legitimate research scientists for any confusion created by these pseudo-scientists at our public and private universities funded by the taxpayers through, including but not limited to the NSF and NASA.

* The chemical composition of lunar regolith among other factors, is dependent on the original parent composition (crystallized lunar surface and subsurface) of which BCC 9601 is a parent pre-cursor forming a primary baseline; as differentiated primary surface contributor it is mafic poor and acidic rich highlands surface crust. In a previous phase separation report by XRD, the technician noted the plagioclase feldspar component as 33%. We have issued a corrected retabulation and the plagioclase component is actually 48% not 33%. Plagioclase feldspar is a major component of lunar composition as shown by BCC9601as well as other relevant research sources.

BCC9601, Primary phase(s)-lunar surface crust 48% plagioclase feldspar, Al/Si ordered, low TiO2, low Fe2O3, silica saturated through differentiation and stellar grain, solar wind, implantation and diffusion. [Ti:Fe % ~1:10, extrapolated from "Moon Beams and Elements" by Taylor-PSRD-], Data processed by Taylor obtained from Clementine data mission. This meteorite sample is extremely rare and contains the typical geophyscial characterisitcs of radiating micro fractures from meteorite impact launching, is very heavily weathered containing no fusion crust. This is due primarily to extensive weathering in a temperate climate. Additionally, it is believed that forceful impact into the cretaceous seas played a role in stripping of the mm burnt fusion crusted surface away from the main mass.

Above left surface of sample and above right showing impact fractures on end slice, 1cm thick slice removed from end for EDS, SEM, and bulk phase phase separation using X-ray diffraction.

Photo above left, 1 cm thick end slice used for thin section, XRD SEM, and EDS analysis, fragment from right corner used for XRD analysis and identification of enstatite stellar grain - MgSiO3. To view some photomicrographs for this lunar meteorite follow this link. To see a piece of this sample crushed into dust, [dust], follow this link. Note: The circular/oval striations on the image above right caused by difficulty of diamond saw blade in cutting the sample. We had to switch to an oil lubricated saw just under half way through the process to cut all the way through the sample. Here are some newer photos of this sample.