Lunar Sample 15016 is a highly-vesicular, olivine­ normative, basalt with a major element composition similar to that of non-vesicular basalt 15555 (figure 1). The variation among such rocks is continuous, so any distinction among categories is arbitrary. samples (basalts) exposed (Swann et al. Cube is 1 inch. It is typically dark color, such as dark brown, black or purplish red. The petrophysical behaviour & petrographical descriptions of amygdaloidal basalt. These samples are all very vesicular; up to 30% (figures 1, 2, 7, 9, 10). Basalt rocks are in some cases classified after their titanium (Ti) content in High-Ti and Low-Ti varieties. Composition Most Common Minerals Rock Name; felsic: glass (may contain a few minerals typical of felsic rocks) pumice: mafic: glass (may contain a few mineral typical of mafic rocks) scoria: Note: Basalt with fewer holes, known as vesicles, is called vesicular basalt. The texture is described as “plagioclase-poikilitic” (Neal and Taylor 1993). Vesicular basalt (3.1 cm across at its widest) Igneous rocks form by the cooling & crystallization of hot, molten rock (magma & lava). Basalt is a very common volcanic rock with low silica content. Most scoria is basaltic or andesitic in composition. Most igneous rocks have a crystalline texture, but some are clastic, vesicular, frothy, or glassy. These voids are the relics of gas bubbles that were present in lava during solidification of the rock. NASA# S71-46632. High-Ti and Low-Ti basalts have been distinguished in the Paraná and Etendeka traps a nd the Emeishan Traps.. Mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) is a tholeiitic basalt commonly erupted only at ocean ridges and is characteristically low in incompatible elements It has the appearance of vesicular lava. 15556 is a very vesicular, olivine-normative mare basalt. The top of a lava flow is made up of a highly vesicular, rubbly material known as scoria. Vesicular basalt is a mafic volcanic rock characterized by several exterior and internal cavities. • Vesicular basalt is rich in calcic-plagioclase, augite, olivine and amygdales. 923.7. grams . The sample is ~3.4 b.y. Vesicular basalt is a dark-colored volcanic rock that contains many small holes, more properly known as vesicles. • Petrophysical behavior is strongly dependent on degree of oxidation & alteration. Due to low trace element content they grouped 71037 with “Type B Apollo 17 basalts”. Petrography . The term scoria is used for a highly vesicular basalt which is more vesicle and less rock (and so quite lightweight, low density), while vesicular basalt is often used for a sample that is more dense with a smaller fraction of vesicles than rock. If this happens at or near the land surface, or on the seafloor, they are extrusive igneous rocks. A vesicle is a small cavity in a volcanic rock that was formed by the expansion of a bubble of gas that was trapped inside the lava. high-Ti basalt. Figure 1: Photograph of vesicular basalt 15016. Scoria has more holes and may be black or red in color. GLASSY TEXTURE Because of its relatively low silica content, basalt lava has a comparatively low viscosity, and forms thin flows that can travel long distances. • Two main groups of Basalts; amygdaloidal and vesicular basalts. Basalt Basalt is a mafic extrusive rock, is the most widespread of all igneous rocks, and comprises more than 90% of all volcanic rocks. McGee et al. Scoria is vesicular and dark colored igneous rock that have or have not contain any crystals. A 15-centimeter (5.9 in) piece of pumice supported by a rolled U.S. $20 bill demonstrates its very low density. Vesicular olivine basalt from La Palma (green phenocrysts are olivine). 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