Difference between revisions of "KREEP"

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{{Stub}}<br/>Some of the following information may be taken from outdated sources and may be incorrect.  You can help ''Lunarpedia'' by correcting it<br/><br/>
 
{{Stub}}<br/>Some of the following information may be taken from outdated sources and may be incorrect.  You can help ''Lunarpedia'' by correcting it<br/><br/>
KREEP is an acronym used in geochemistry to represent a mixture of K-[[potassium]], REE-[[rare earth elements]], and P-[[phosphorus]].  It is not only the main source of these elements on the moon, but also many other trace elements such as uranium, thorium, fluorine, chlorine, and zirconium.  Many scientists consider this component of lunar rocks to be the remnant of a magma ocean which is widely accepted to have covered the surface of the moon approximately 4.5 billion years ago after the moon formed from debris cast out in a cataclysmic collision between earth and another celestial body.  It is considered a convenient tracer for researchers seeking to chronicle the volcanic history of the lunar surface, as well as impacts of celestial bodies.
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KREEP is an acronym used in geochemistry to represent a mixture of K-[[potassium]], REE-[[rare earth elements]], and P-[[phosphorus]].  It is not only the main source of these elements on the moon, but also many other trace elements such as uranium, thorium, fluorine, chlorine, and zirconium.   
  
KREEP is a composite of what scientists term "incompatible elements": elements which cannot fit into the crystal structures formed by cooling magma. This resulted in a KREEP rich magma sandwiched between the floating anorthositic plagioclase of the lunar crust and the precipitating minerals that formed the mantle.  although is was common belief that this process would form an evenly distributed global layer of KREEP magma, the [[Gamma Ray Spectrometer]] aboard [[Lunar Prospector]] shows that KREEP is mainly concentrated in the area of [[Oceanus Procellarum]] and [[Mare Imbrium]].  This unusual geological region is now referred to as the [[Procellarum KREEP Terrane]].  Deep penetrating impact basins away from this region show only modest or no KREEP concentrations in their ejecta and rims.
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==Applications==
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It is considered a convenient tracer for researchers seeking to chronicle the volcanic history of the lunar surface, as well as impacts of celestial bodies.
 +
 
 +
==Origins and Distribution==
 +
Many scientists consider this component of lunar rocks to be the remnant of a magma ocean which  covered the surface of the moon approximately 4.5 billion years ago after the moon formed by accretion from debris cast out in a cataclysmic collision between earth and another celestial body about the size of mars.
 +
 
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KREEP is a composite of what scientists term "incompatible elements": elements which cannot fit into the crystal structures formed by cooling magma. This resulted in a KREEP rich magma sandwiched between the floating anorthositic plagioclase of the lunar crust and the precipitating minerals that formed the mantle.  Although it was common belief that this process would form an evenly distributed global layer of KREEP magma, the [[Gamma Ray Spectrometer]] aboard [[Lunar Prospector]] shows that KREEP is mainly concentrated in the area of [[Oceanus Procellarum]] and [[Mare Imbrium]].  This unusual geological region is now referred to as the [[Procellarum KREEP Terrane]].  Deep penetrating impact basins away from this region show only modest or no KREEP concentrations in their ejecta and rims.
  
 
KREEP is kicked up in the ejecta or "splash out" produced in impacts taking place on or in close proximity to basaltic lava flows, as well as in major impacts which penetrate the crust.  Some of this splash out was brought back by the [[Apollo 15]] mission in fragments generally smaller than 1cm.  These samples are believed to have originated after the impact which formed the Imbrium basin[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v336/n6201/abs/336751a0.html].
 
KREEP is kicked up in the ejecta or "splash out" produced in impacts taking place on or in close proximity to basaltic lava flows, as well as in major impacts which penetrate the crust.  Some of this splash out was brought back by the [[Apollo 15]] mission in fragments generally smaller than 1cm.  These samples are believed to have originated after the impact which formed the Imbrium basin[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v336/n6201/abs/336751a0.html].
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==Related Articles==
 
==Related Articles==
 
*[[Rare Earth Elements]]
 
*[[Rare Earth Elements]]
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
*[http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/results/gamres.htm NASA Gamma Ray Spectrometer Results]
 
*[http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/results/gamres.htm NASA Gamma Ray Spectrometer Results]

Revision as of 12:24, 14 February 2007

This article is a stub. You can help Lunarpedia by expanding it or sorting it into the correct stub subcategory.


Some of the following information may be taken from outdated sources and may be incorrect. You can help Lunarpedia by correcting it

KREEP is an acronym used in geochemistry to represent a mixture of K-potassium, REE-rare earth elements, and P-phosphorus. It is not only the main source of these elements on the moon, but also many other trace elements such as uranium, thorium, fluorine, chlorine, and zirconium.

Applications

It is considered a convenient tracer for researchers seeking to chronicle the volcanic history of the lunar surface, as well as impacts of celestial bodies.

Origins and Distribution

Many scientists consider this component of lunar rocks to be the remnant of a magma ocean which covered the surface of the moon approximately 4.5 billion years ago after the moon formed by accretion from debris cast out in a cataclysmic collision between earth and another celestial body about the size of mars.

KREEP is a composite of what scientists term "incompatible elements": elements which cannot fit into the crystal structures formed by cooling magma. This resulted in a KREEP rich magma sandwiched between the floating anorthositic plagioclase of the lunar crust and the precipitating minerals that formed the mantle. Although it was common belief that this process would form an evenly distributed global layer of KREEP magma, the Gamma Ray Spectrometer aboard Lunar Prospector shows that KREEP is mainly concentrated in the area of Oceanus Procellarum and Mare Imbrium. This unusual geological region is now referred to as the Procellarum KREEP Terrane. Deep penetrating impact basins away from this region show only modest or no KREEP concentrations in their ejecta and rims.

KREEP is kicked up in the ejecta or "splash out" produced in impacts taking place on or in close proximity to basaltic lava flows, as well as in major impacts which penetrate the crust. Some of this splash out was brought back by the Apollo 15 mission in fragments generally smaller than 1cm. These samples are believed to have originated after the impact which formed the Imbrium basin[1].

Related Articles

External Links