Arguably the greatest mineral-collecting field trip of all time took place in July 1969, when two rockhounds gathered 48 pounds of specimens at a never-before-collected locality. Although admittedly short on aesthetic appeal, these specimens were a scientific bonanza and the most valuable mineral specimens ever collected.
The collectors were National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr., the first humans to set foot on the Moon. The field trip was NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, and the locality was the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility. By 1972 when the Apollo program ended, 12 astronauts had walked on the Moon and collected 842 pounds of “moon rocks.” The significance of these celebrated rocks and what became of them during the half-century that followed is a fascinating tale of high security, meticulous accounting, worldwide distribution, unprecedented scientific study, and even a bit of fraud and greed.
Before Apollo, our geological and mineralogical knowledge of the Moon had amounted to educated guesswork based largely on the study of lunar meteorites. But lunar meteorites, pieces of the Moon’s surface that had been dislodged by meteoritic impacts and wound up on Earth, are rare. And their scientific value was limited because of unknown lunar geographic origin, alteration incurred in the heat of atmospheric entry, and long-term exposure to the Earth’s atmosphere.
EARLY THEORIES OF ORIGINS
Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Rock&Gem Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Rock&Gem Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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This News is for the Birds
The amazing range of the would-be birds!
CALIFORNIA MAGNESITE PLASMA AGATE
California magnesite plasma agate is a kaleidoscope of minerals. Much like its neighbor from Clear Creek, it contains chalcedony, serpentine, jadeite and chromite.
HOW TO CREATE A CABBING MATERIAL
Even though Mother Nature creates almost unbounded types and numbers of beautiful materials for cabbing, often I struggle to find a slab that will work for the project that I want to do.
PINWHEEL - VIET GEMS 149
I am frequently asked what my favorite gemstone designs are and where to find them. After my trip to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, I updated my list of favorites to include gemstone designer, Phan Thanh Trung.
Copper Minerals: My Favorite
I have lived in the “Copper State” of Arizona for 65 years so it should not surprise readers that copper minerals are among my favorites to collect.
OPPENHEIMER, TRINITY SITE AND TRINITITE
The widely acclaimed, 2023 Hollywood biographical movie Oppenheimer recently won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor (Cillian Murphy).
Clearing ,Smudging & Setting Intentions for Stones
Why do you believe what you believe? Are your beliefs true because you choose to believe them? Whether it is religion, science or the metaphysical, your belief and faith make it real to you in mind, body and soul.
Rhode Island's Hobbit Stone Age
Rhode Island may be 22nd out of 30 states in miles of total coastline but when you compare coastline length to land acres, it ranks second only to Maryland.
Black Range Amethyst
Amethyst in Southwest New Mexico
EQUINE Bling!
How an Oklahoma Saddle Maker Uses Moissanite, Gold, Silver Turquoise tc to Adorn Saddles Jewelry