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Assessing leaching rates and capabilites of lunar simulants and Apollo regolith
Hadden, Karlie M.
Hadden, Karlie M.
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2024
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2025-05-26
Abstract
Leaching experiments were conducted on four Apollo samples and two lunar simulants exposed to ultra-pure distilled water and a pH 4 solution for varying durations. This study comprehensively analyzed dissolved ion concentrations in leached solutions. Leaching behavior was assessed between 24 hours to 168 hours, examining the impact of regolith and fluid properties on leaching. Results show similar leaching patterns for aluminum, iron, magnesium, calcium, and silica, along with other ions present in both Apollo samples and simulants. Mare samples demonstrated heightened leaching overall, with discernible variations in ion concentrations between highland and mare compositions. Each ion displayed a two-stage leaching process. The first stage is characterized by a rapid release of ions into the pH 4 solution from 24 hours to 72 hours. The second stage is characterized by a stabilized linear release of ions from 72 hours to the termination of the experiment at 168 hours. Grain size distribution impacted leaching rates, but the maturity and glass content of the samples appeared to exert a more pronounced influence on dissolution. Leaching curves were modeled using a parabolic diffusion-controlled equation, and similar profiles for regolith simulants show that these more available materials can be used to extend studies to larger scales where lunar properties such as precipitation can be studied.
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