Thermally-evolved-gas analyses were performed on the Apollo lunar soils shortly after their return to Earth [1-8]. The analyses revealed the presence of water evolving at temperatures above 200 C. Of particular interest are samples that were collected from permanently-shadowed locations (e.g., under a boulder) with a second sample collected in nearby sunlight, and pairs in which one was taken from the top of a trench, and the second was taken at the base of the trench, where the temperature would have been -10 to -20 C prior to the disturbance [9]. These samples include 63340/63500, 69941/69961, and 76240/76280. At the time that this research was first reported, the idea of hydrated minerals on the lunar surface was somewhat novel. Nevertheless, goethite was observed in lunar breccias from Apollo 14 [10], and it was shown that goethite, hematite and magnetite could originate in an equilibrium assemblage of lunar rocks


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    Title :

    Thermal Analyses of Apollo Lunar Soils Provide Evidence for Water in Permanently Shadowed Areas


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Lunar and Planetary Institute meeting ; 2011 ; Houston, TX, United States


    Publication date :

    2011-06-13


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :