Whitlockite and apatite from lunar rock 14310 and from Ödegården, Norway

W. L. Griffin*, R. Åmli, K. S. Heier

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microprobe analyses show that whitlockite from lunar rocks is enriched in REE relative to the associated apatite, whereas a terrestrial whitlockite is severely depleted in REE relative to the associated apatite. After considering other possibilities, we suggest that the lunar whitlockite originally crystallized as the high-T polymorph, which is capable of taking up excess CaO (and REE?). Inversion to the low-T form has been inhibited by the non-stoichiometry, so that the present "whitlockite" phase is poorly crystalline. Similar relations may exist in terrestrial basalts of low water content, but would be easily overlooked in petrographic studies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)53-58
Number of pages6
JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1972
Externally publishedYes

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