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Formation of Lunar Carbide from Lunar Iron Silicates

Nature Physical Science volume 245, pages 3–5 (1973)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 15 February 1974

Abstract

WE have shown that the concentrations of carbide (estimated from the CD4 released by DC1 dissolution) and CH4 in lunar fines are related to the extent of exposure of the same samples on the lunar surface as measured by other investigators1–3. Although graphical correlation3 of carbide concentration with surface exposure parameters for a variety of samples shows an approximate linear relationship (namely, carbide increases with exposure) there is significant scatter. The data now available from Apollo 16 samples indicate that this scatter is not due to random error. We interpret the scatter to imply that the generation of carbide depends not only on surface exposure but also on the availability of indigenous lunar FeII in silicates for reduction to Fe°. This suggestion is in agreement with our earlier hypothesis3,4 that most of the carbide originates in synthetic reactions induced at the lunar surface. The direct contribution from meteoritic carbide must be small and the incorporation of meteorite carbon may be minor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Organic Geochemistry Unit, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol,

    C. T. PILLINGER, B. D. BATTS, G. EGLINTON, A. P. GOWAR, A. J. T. JULL & J. R. MAXWELL

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  1. C. T. PILLINGER
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  2. B. D. BATTS
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  3. G. EGLINTON
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  5. A. J. T. JULL
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  6. J. R. MAXWELL
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PILLINGER, C., BATTS, B., EGLINTON, G. et al. Formation of Lunar Carbide from Lunar Iron Silicates. Nature Physical Science 245, 3–5 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci245003a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/physci245003a0

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