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Scanning Electron Microscope View of Iron Crystal

Magnified view of iron crystals
Image Credit: NASA/JSC
Published: July 9, 2018
Historical Date: November 10, 1972

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).

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