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Detailed Reference Information
Delano et al. 1982
Delano, J.W., Lindsley, D.H., Ma, M.-S. and Schmitt, R.A. (1982). The Apollo 15 yellow impact glasses: Chemistry, petrology, and exotic origin. Journal of Geophysical Research 87: doi: 10.1029/JS087iS01p0A159. issn: 0148-0227.

The Apollo 15 yellow impact glasses are characterized by moderate TiO2 (~4.8%) and high abundances of the large ion lithophile elements (e.g., K, P, Hf, Th, REE). Since the chemistry of these glasses cannot be duplicated by any combination of local components presently known to occur at the Apollo 15 landing site, these yellow glasses seem to be exotic to that area. Chemical and petrologic constraints suggest that these samples were produced by impact melting of an immature mare regolith developed upon an unusual variety of mare basalt. We speculate that the target basalt were the youngest lava flows known to exist on the moon (i.e., Eratosphenian-age lavas in Oceanus Procellarum and Mare Imbrium). Specific tests are proposed for evaluating this provocative hypothesis.

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Journal of Geophysical Research
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American Geophysical Union
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