Project Description: The Moon's surface has been significantly affected by impacts from asteroids and comets over the last ~4.5 billion years. Impact heating is a key aspect of the cratering process and may have played an important role in mobilizing elements such as hydrogen, sulfur, and chlorine within the lunar crust as vapors (e.g., Barnes and Zolensky, 2023). Recent studies suggest that this mobilization could explain the mineralogy, geochemistry, and unusual isotopic compositions of select Apollo samples. Understanding the characteristics of such vapors and how widespread this process may have been is crucial ahead of the return of samples from the Artemis program in the late 2020s. To address this problem, we will analyze Apollo breccia samples using a coordinated microanalytical approach.
NASA Relevance: This work contributes to our understanding of the evolution of the Moon aligning with NASA's solar system workings program element.
Work Description: The intern will characterize samples with electron beam techniques and locate areas of interest for target extraction. The intern will prepare electron transparent focused ion beam (FIB) foils for analysis in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The intern will learn how to process and interpret the geochemical data collected. The intern will contribute the preparation of a manuscript.
Open or Reserved Project: 1 position reserved, but will consider new student if requested student not awarded.