Scanning Electron Microscope View of Iron Crystal

Magnified view of iron crystals. Each has several flat faces. They look light grey, and the edges catch the light.
NASA/JSC
CreditNASA/JSC
Historical DateNovember 10, 1972
Language
  • english

A scanning electron microscope photograph of iron crystals which grow in a small vug or cavity in a recrystallized breccia (fragmented rock) from the Apollo 15 Hadley-Apennino lunar landing site. The largest crystal is three microns across. Perfectly developed crystals such as these indicate slow formation from a hot vapor as the rock was cooling. The crystals are resting on an interlocking lattice of pyroxene (calsium-magnesium-iron silicate).