Experimental modeling of the cooling history of Apollo 12 olivine basalts

Abstract

An analog of the Apollo 12 olivine vitrophyres has been crystallized in a 1-atm gas-mixing furnace at cooling rates ranging between 1250 and 0.7°/hr and isothermally at degrees of supercooling ranging from 10°C to 325°C. Mineral chemistry, crystal shapes, grain sizes and textures are systematically related to cooling rate and degree of supercooling.