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Formation of Lunar Glassy Spherules: A Dynamical Model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2017

A. Carusi ,
A. Coradini ,
M. Fulchignoni  and
G. Magni
A. Carusi
Affiliation:
Istituto di Geologia e Paleontologia University of Rome, Italy
A. Coradini
Affiliation:
Istituto di Geologia e Paleontologia University of Rome, Italy
M. Fulchignoni
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Astrophysics, Frascati, Italy
G. Magni
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Astrophysics, Frascati, Italy

Abstract

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Glassy spherules ranging from 200 μ to 62 μ in size have been separated from lunar dust samples No. 12001.73, 12057.60, 12070.37. Most of them are regular in size (spherical, ellipsoidic, dumbbell, teardrop, etc.); some are irregularly shaped.

A tentative dynamical model of the evolution of a rotating melted spherical drop of homogeneous glassy material has been built in order to explain the observed forms. We suppose such fluid to be originated from the impact of meteoroids on the lunar surface. The energy balance between the projectile (meteoroid) and the target (lunar surface) has been calculated supposing that the impact gives rise to strong shock waves in both bodies.

Equations of the model have been solved numerically and a good agreement between these results and the experimental data regarding small spherules has been obtained.

Type
Part II: Scientific Papers
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 47: The Moon , 1972 , pp. 180 - 184
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1972 

References

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