Lunar Regolith Simulant Behaviours Affected by Shock Metamorphism and Mineralogy
Abstract
There are still many gaps in improving the fidelity of lunar regolith simulants to simulate more properties. This study compares some fundamental physical and mineralogical properties of three types of lunar highland regolith simulants: LHS-1, a commercial product with high mineralogical fidelity; UWO-1G, an original simulant that is the main component of LHS-1; and UWO-1S, another original product that is attempted to produce shocked grains in lunar simulants from pulverizing and mixing impact rocks sourced from the Mistastin Crater.
Preliminary results indicated that even though all simulants are composed of mostly plagioclase minerals and have similar particle size distribution patterns, the UWO-1S grains exhibit less angularity compared to LHS-1 and UWO-1G, as well as poor ability to regain void ratio during consolidation tests. Both are indications that the grain strength is possibly weaker due to impact events, however further characterizations are also recommended for more evidence.