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Mao, H. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Mao, H. K..

30 records · Page 2

Ultrahigh pressures - Optical observations and Raman measurements of hydrogen and deuterium to 1.47 Mbar

Hydrogen and deuterium have been pressurized under static conditions to 1.47 Mbar, which is higher by a factor of 2 than the static data of Sharma et al. (1980). Measurements of the vibron indicate an initial increase and then a sharp decrease in frequency at pressures above 0.5 Mbar. At 1.14 Mbar the vibron frequency decreased to the zero-pressure value, and at 1.47 Mbar the frequency of the vibron in hydrogen is 90/cm below the value of the vibrational mode of the isolated molecule. This pronounced softening of the vibron suggests strengthened intermolecular interaction.

Mao, H. K.

Effects of compositional variation on absorption spectra of lunar pyroxenes

Polarized absorption spectra of lunar pyroxenes with a range of iron, calcium, magnesium, titanium and chromium contents were measured on polished, oriented single crystals; spectral data on pure synthetic FeSiO3 were also recorded. The bands at 1 and 2 microns were found to vary significantly in position with composition within the pyroxene quadrilateral; wavelengths increased with increasing calcium and iron. In the visible region, a weak band at 640 nm correlates in intensity with Cr2O3, but not with titanium as had been previously suggested. The 505-nm ferrous iron peak is a sharp doublet in most low-calcium pyroxenes but a singlet in augites. A peak at 475 nm and an intense absorption edge below 700 nm correlated with titanium content.

Hazen, R. M.

The problem of the origin of symplectites in olivine-bearing lunar rocks

In a study of its origin in olivine-bearing lunar rocks, symplectite is grouped into the following types: (1) very abundant blebs in olivine phenocrysts, (2) scattered blebs in dunite, (3) scattered elongated masses along grain boundaries in troctolite, (4) scattered mosaic assemblages of coarser minerology along grain boundaries, (5) very abundant needle-like arrays, and (6) very abundant grains dispersed in rows. Four theories are proposed to explain the various symplectite distributions.

Bell, P. M.

Beta-FeOOH, akaganeite, in lunar rocks

Experiments were conducted to determine the nature of the alteration process in lunar rocks. Mixtures of 10 wt.% Fe + 10 wt.% FeCl2 + 80 wt.% basalt (terrestrial) were pelletized and allowed to set for 48 hrs at 25 C, at 40% and at 100% relative humidity. The end products were examined by reflected-light microscopy and by X-ray diffraction. The degree of reaction appears to depend upon the amount of FeCl2, the availability of water and the Ni content of the metallic Fe. The experiments showed the extremely rapid rate at which the oxyhydration can occur in air and that the product is beta-FeOOH. The data from the FeOOH mineral in rock 66095 were compared with those obtained from synthetic beta-FeOOH and found to be identical. The 'rust' in the Apollo 16 rocks could result from oxyhydration of the samples, caused by water vapor contamination, all or part of which occurred in the Apollo spacecraft and/or upon return to earth. The akageneite (beta-FeOOH) in lunar rocks could be entirely of terrestrial origin as originally suggested by Taylor et al. (1973).

Taylor, L. A.

Visible and near-infra-red transmission and reflectance measurements of the Luna 20 soil.

Visible and near-infrared spectra of chemically analyzed grains of glass and minerals from the Luna 20 sample were compared with diffuse reflectance spectra of the bulk soil. As in the spectra of soil samples from other localities on the moon, pyroxene contributes two broad absorption features near 1 and 2 microns. The soil has a high integral reflectance (or albedo) arising from plagioclase, which appears to be the dominant mineral in the lunar highlands. The Luna 20 soil curve is most similar to the reflectance curves of the non-rayed soils at Apollo 16, in agreement with the generally similar mineralogy of these samples. The average pyroxene composition in the Luna 20 soil, as determined from the absorption bands in the diffuse reflectance spectra, and analyses of single crystals, is more calcic than in the lithic fragments. Thus, the soil appears to have a few per cent of admixed material derived from mare basalts. Comparison of the soil spectrum with telescopic curves of nearby areas reveals a close similarity.

Adams, J. B.

Optical and chemical analysis of iron in Luna 20 plagioclase.

Review of analytical data on the iron content of Luna 20 anorthitic plagioclase, obtained by a highly sensitive technique for measuring polarized absorption related to crystal-field splittings and by automated electron microprobe analysis of oriented single crystals. The iron content is found to range from a few hundredths to a few tenths of a weight per cent from crystal to crystal. The optical and chemical properties of the iron appear to be caused by postcrystallization migration and exsolution. Postcrystallization effects may obscure evidence of the original oxidation state and iron concentration of these crystals.

Bell, P. M.

Polarized crystal-field spectra of micro particles of the moon

The instrumentation used in the investigation is considered, giving attention also to a block diagram of the apparatus used for measuring crystal-field spectra. The basic object of the studies was to identify the states of transition elements in lunar crystals in order to obtain information on the chemistry of their crystallization history. After spectral measurements were obtained, the crystals were analyzed for major and minor elements using the electron microprobe. Mineral spectra are considered, giving attention to pyroxene, olivine, plagioclase, and lunar glasses.

Mao, H. K.

Rust in the Apollo 16 rocks

Apollo 16 samples of all four rock types and from all stations contain evidence for hydration and oxidation - i.e., the presence of hydrated iron oxide, probably goethite. Rock 66095 contains native FeNi grains with a characteristic intergrowth of schreibersite and, to lesser extents, of cohenite. Troilite also contains sphalerite. The goethite contains 1.5-4.6 wt.% chlorine and occurs mainly on the edges of FeNi metal, causing a rust color in the cracks and space around the native metal grains, which also contain abundant chlorine. This observation suggests the presence of lawrencite (FeCl2), a phase that deliquesces and oxidizes very rapidly upon exposure to water or to a moist atmosphere.

Taylor, L. A.

An interlaboratory comparison of piston-cylinder pressure calibration using the albite-breakdown reaction.

An attempt is made to compare pressure calibration methods among several laboratories in an unbiased way to produce some indication of the bandwidth of observations on the pressure of an equilibrium reaction where sources of discrepancy not resulting from pressure calibration are likely to have been eliminated. The reaction chosen is the breakdown of albite to jadeite and quartz under pressure.

Johannes, W.