V.P. Semenenko, NATURE OF LAWRENCITE IN THE LUNAR REGOLYTH SAMPLES
https://doi.org/10.15407/mineraljournal.48.01.058
UDC 523.681
NATURE OF LAWRENCITE IN THE LUNAR REGOLYTH SAMPLES
V.P. Semenenko, DrSc (Geology), Corresponding Member of NAS of Ukraine,
Prof., Head of Department
E-mail: cosmin@i.ua; orcid: 0000-0003-1479-6874
S.N. Shyrinbekova, PhD (Geology), Research Fellow
E-mail: svetlana_shirinbekova@ukr.net; orcid: 0000-0003-3872-0399
M.P. Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation of the NAS of Ukraine
34, Acad. Palladin Ave., Kyiv, Ukraine, 03142
Language: Ukrainian
Mineralogical journal 2026, 48 (1): 58-64
Abstract: Numerous data concerning the findings, distribution, and sources of origin of the rare halide mineral of lunar rocks, lawrencite (FeCl2), have been analyzed, which is directly related to its nature in meteorites and diversity of fundamental processes of mineral formation, transformation, and mineral matter exchange between consolidated bodies of the Solar System. It is emphasized that the lawrencite belongs to throughgoing minerals of the Solar System and could have formed at various stages of its evolution: from a condensation of the protoplanetary gas-dust nebula to its occurrence in consolidated bodies such as meteorites, the Moon, and Earth. Unlike of a meteorite lawrencite reality of existence of the lunar lawrencite is not in scientific dispute, as lunar rock samples brought back to Earth under sterile conditions. The lunar 66095 sample, known as "Rusty Rock", is especially informative. Three sources of lawrencite origin in the lunar samples are currently considered: meteorite, meteorite-lunar, and lunar. According to the meteorite hypothesis, the presence of FeCl2 in the lunar rocks is due to primary meteoritic contamination, resulting from bombardment of a lunar surface by small Solar System bodies. The currently dominant meteorite-lunar hypothesis, i.e. impact-metamorphic hypothesis involves the processes of intense and multiple meteorite impacts on the lunar surface, thermal mobilization of volatiles from the lunar highlands and their subsequent migration into impact rocks, chemical interaction and condensation of Fe, P, S, Cl compounds within the breccia matrix leading to the formation of a mineral association of Fe,Ni-metal, schreibersite, troilite and lawrencite. The lunar hypothesis predicts the formation of FeCl2 in lunar fumaroles. It is concluded that there is no contradiction in the existence of different sources of lawrencite, taking into account the complex history of the Moon, in which such processes as fumarolic degassing of surface basalt intrusions, influx of meteoritic material, shock-metamorphic transformation of lunar surface rocks due to meteorite impacts, and the influence of cosmic radiation have a fundamental importance.
Keywords: lawrencite, Moon, regolith, "Rusty Rock", akaganeite, Fe,Ni-metal, meteorite, fumaroles.
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