Which mineral is the lunar highlands rock anorthosite rich in?
Answer
Plagioclase feldspar
The primary crust of the Moon, which constitutes the ancient, heavily cratered highlands, is dominated by the rock anorthosite. A defining characteristic of anorthosite is that it is rich in the mineral plagioclase feldspar. This mineral is lighter in color compared to the iron- and magnesium-bearing silicates found in the maria basalts, which is why the highlands reflect sunlight effectively, leading to their pale appearance when viewed from Earth. The presence of this feldspar-rich component distinguishes the primary crust from the secondary resurfacing material of the maria.
Related Questions
What is the key constituent defining the material of the lunar maria?What minerals high in iron and magnesium cause the maria's darker color?What rock type dominates the lighter-hued lunar highlands?Lunar basalts are notably characterized as being what, unlike many terrestrial basalts?Which mineral is the lunar highlands rock anorthosite rich in?What property allowed basaltic lava to spread across vast distances to form the maria?Which iron-titanium oxide mineral contributes to the dark character of mare basalts?What did early astronomers mistakenly believe the lunar maria were?The maria formed when basaltic lava flowed into and filled what features?What chemical content dictates the contrast between mafic mare basalts and felsic highland material?