Characterization of Lunar Dust for Toxicological Studies. II: Texture and Shape Characteristics

The morphology shape and texture of dust fractions of five Apollo lunar soils and a lunar dust simulant, JSC-1Avf, was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Shape aspect ratio and complexity of particles was described based on the two-dimensional projection images. The distributions of aspect ratio and complexity of particles are reported. It was determined that the Apollo lunar dust particles consist mainly of impact-produced glass, with complicated morphologies, extensive surface areas per grain, and sharp, jagged edges. Importantly, many grains contain elaborate vesicular textures, representing minute agglutinates. Dust simulant JSC-1Avf also has similar shapes as lunar dust, but differs in surface texture and area smooth and nonvesicular . These data provide information for toxicity studies of lunar dust and for selecting a suitable lunar dust simulant. DOI: 10.1061/ ASCE 0893-1321 2008 21:4 272 CE Database subject headings: Dust; Moon; Toxicity; Morphology.