Moon Rocks and Minerals

Book excerpt: Moon Rocks and Minerals compiles the important findings that have resulted from the first study of the Apollo 11 lunar rocks, including preliminary data on Apollo 12 lunar samples. The compiled study samples and proposals on the lunar rocks are categorized into four general categories— mineralogy and petrology, chemical and isotope analyses, physical properties, and bioscience and organic geochemistry. In these categories, this book specifically discusses the types and mineralogy of lunar rocks and soils; chemistry of samples brought by Apollo 11 and 12; and experimental studies and origin of the lavas. The age of the lunar rocks, isotope studies, cosmic ray, and solar wind effects and origin of the moon are also deliberated. This text also covers the examination of lunar samples for the presence of biochemical organic compounds in the general context of the possibility of extraterrestrial life. This publication is beneficial to scientists of disciplines such as geochemistry, cosmochemistry, mineralogy, and geophysics.