Eskolaite in the regolith of the Taurus-Littrow Valley

Abstract

Eskolaite crystals were discovered in the course of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies of the regolith sample, which was delivered from the continental area between Serenitatis and Tranquilitatis Maria during the Apollo 17 mission. The finding was compared with an analogue sampled from Mare Crisium (Luna 24 mission). A condensate-impact origin of eskolaite is assumed for both findings. It was demonstrated that the eskolaite of the Apollo 17 probe is genetically and morphologically identical to the eskolaite from the Luna 24 probes.