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Bence, A. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Bence, A. E..

30 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

Pyroxene poikiloblastic rocks from the lunar highlands

The results of detailed petrographic, X-ray, electron microprobe, ion probe, and Ar-40/Ar-39 age studies of pyroxene poikiloblastic breccias, an important lunar highlands lithology, are interpreted to indicate that high grade metamorphic recrystallization occurred over wide regions of the moon at about 4.0 G.y. This metamorphism was probably related to a period of high meteorite influx at that time. The temperatures achieved were highly variable but in some cases were sufficiently intense to cause varying degrees of partial melting of the precursor highlands breccias. A complete spectrum of metamorphic grades from only slight recrystallization to virtually complete melting would be expected in such a model. Such a spectrum is observed in the Apollo 16 rocks.

Bence, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Apollo 14 inverted pigeonites - Possible samples of lunar plutonic rocks.

Analysis of 'inverted pigeonites' found in Apollo 14 samples 14082 and 14083 (a polymict breccia, the 'white rock') by a combination of optical, electron probe, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. These 'inverted pigeonites' are regarded as samples of plutonic rocks that have been blasted out of the Imbrium Basin. It is also concluded that lunar pigeonites will invert to orthopyroxenes, given sufficiently slow cooling histories even in very anhydrous environments.

Papike, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Petrology of basaltic and monomineralic soil fragments from the Sea of Fertility.

Basaltic and monomineralic fragments from the 150-425 micron size fractions of the Luna 16 core obtained from the Sea of Fertility were studied by optical petrographic, electron microprobe, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Three textural varieties were identified in the basalts (intersertal, subophitic, and recrystallized). These textures, the assemblages, and individual mineral compositions (especially pyroxenes) indicate that these basalts crystallized under conditions very similar to those from Apollo 11. The pyroxenes have slightly lower Ti/Al (atomic) ratios than the Apollo 11 pyroxenes. We interpret the presence of octahedral Al as being due to the low TiO2/Al2O3 (weight %) ratio in the bulk rock. All observations made on the fine-grained basalt fragments are consistent with a rapid, near-surface, one-stage crystallization history.

Bence, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Pyroxenes as recorders of lunar basalt petrogenesis - Chemical trends due to crystal-liquid interaction.

Review of the crystallization histories suggested by the chemical, crystallographic, morphological, and paragenetic relationships observed in pyroxenes from basalts collected on the Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, and Luna 16 missions. Although the final stages of lunar basalt crystallization appear to be rapid near-surface events, the initial stages are shown to vary considerably among the different basalt types.

Bence, A. E.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Apollo 12 clinopyroxenes - Chemical trends

Clinopyroxenes from Apollo 12 rocks studied by X ray diffraction and electron microprobe methods, noting phenocrysts, chemical composition and crystallization

Bence, A. E.↗