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PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] Volcanic rock samples collected during NASA s Apollo missions bear the isotopic signature of key events in the early evolution of the Moon, a new analysis found. Those events include the formation of the Moon s iron core, as well as the crystallization of the lunar magma ocean the sea of molten rock thought to have covered the Moon for around 100 million years after it formed.
The analysis, published in the journal
Science Advances, used a technique called secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to study volcanic glasses returned from the Apollo 15 and 17 missions, which are thought to represent some of the most primitive volcanic material on the Moon. The study looked specifically at sulfur isotope composition, which can reveal details about the chemical evolution of lavas from generation, transport and eruption.
Apollo mission rocks shed light on the moon s early history futurity.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from futurity.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.