Discovery of Discrete Structured Bubbles within Lunar Regolith Impact Glasses

Abstract EN

The unusual morphology and internal structure of bubbles within lunar regolith impact glasses have been studied using traditional scanning electron microscopy and the novel technique transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM), with 3D tomography reconstruction.

Here, we show the previously unknown phenomenon of building a highly porous cellular structure within bubbles in glassy particles of the dust fraction of lunar regolith.

Vesicles within studied lunar glasses are filled in with submicron-sized particles as shown in the presented micrograph.

These particles consist of glass nano in size elements.

What is shown in the TXM tomography reconstruction anaglyph demonstrates cellular-like, 3D structure where oblique probably glassy fine particles down to 100 nm in diameter build chains of sophisticated network.

It also may be suggested that submicron and nano-sized grains present in lunar regolith are the result of particle liberation from broken glassy vesicles.

This liberation takes place when regolith is exposed to constant impact pulverisation.

Liberated particles are permanently enriching lunar soil in the finest soil constituent.

This constituent presence in lunar regolith may be responsible for the unusual behaviour of lunar material.

This unusual constituent of lunar regolith and its properties have to be better understood before our permanent lunar exploration begins.