Fluorite, Hatchettolite, Calcium Sulfate, and Bastnasite-(Ce) in the Lunar Regolith from Mare Crisium

摘要

Fragments of an ultradispersed regolith sample delivered by AS Luna-24 to the Earth were chosen for investigation. The sample was prepared for analysis in the following way. Double-sided carbon tape was fixed on the standard aluminum stage of the scanning electron microscope. The tape contained only carbon and oxygen within the detection limit of energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometers. Immediately after opening of the ampule with the regolith sample, the regolith was spread as a fine coating on the outer side of the tape. Just before the ampule opening, the protective film was removed from the tape. Then, the stage with the prepared sample was closed in the sterile Petri dish and placed in a special repository until investigation with the scanning electron microscope. Thus, the risk of sample contamination with alien phases was reduced to a minimum; alien phases represent the greatest threat to the reliability of the results obtained.