Planetary Simulant Database
Free Resource for Regolith Simulant Information
Mineralogy
| Mineral | Abundance (%) |
|---|---|
| Plagioclase An60-100 | 43.34 |
| Glasses | 50.95 |
| Other | 5.71 |
Bulk Chemistry
Bulk chemistry is not available for the whole OB-1 simulant, but is for the Shawmere Anorthosite component. A metals analysis of the olivine slag component was reported in M. Battler’s thesis, but is not reproduced here.
| Oxide | Shawmere Anorthosite |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 48.4 |
| TiO2 | 0.08 |
| Al2O3 | 31.60 |
| Fe2O3 | 1.33 |
| MgO | 0.35 |
| CaO | 15.4 |
| Na2O | 2.47 |
| K2O | 0.08 |
| MnO | <0.01 |
| P2O5 | <0.01 |
| Total | 100.26 |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Mean particle size | 82.25 μm |
| Median particle size | 35.97 μm |
| Specific gravity | 3.071 |
| Bulk density | 1.815 g/cm3 |
OB-1/CHENOBI Olivine Bytownite
Simulant Name: OB-1/CHENOBI Olivine Bytownite
Availability: May Be Available
Fidelity: Standard
Developed By: Jim Richard (EVC) (NORCAT), and University of New Brunswick (John Spray, Melissa Battler). All intellectual property rights reside with Deltion Innovations Ltd (formed out of NORCAT and EVC) and both OB-1 and CHENOBI are trademarks of Deltion Innovations Ltd.
Available From: Deltion Innovations Ltd
Deltion retains all rights to OB-1 and CHENOBI and is prepared to restart production.
Battler, M. (2008), Development of an Anorthositic Lunar Regolith Simulant: OB-1. Master’s thesis
Battler, M., D. Boucher, J. Richard, J. Spray, 2005. “Developing Lunar Regolith Simulants”, CSEW5
Richard, J., L. Sigurdson, M.M. Battler, 2007. “OB-1 Lunar Highlands Physical Simulant Evolution and Production”, 2007 Lunar and Dust Regolith Simulant Workshop.
Battler, M., J. Richard, D. Boucher., J.Spray, 2006. “Progress Report: Development and Production of Lunar Highland Regolith Simulant OB1”, 3rd Annual Planetary and Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium
Richard, J., D. Boucher, M. Battler, 2006. “Lunar Physical Simulant – Evolution, Production and Use, Space Resources Roundtable VIII
The OB-1 lunar highlands simulant was developed using internal research funds by NORCAT and EVC. It consists of a mixture of 58% Shawmere Anorthosite (from a quarry in Foleyet, Ontario) and 42% fayalitic olivine slag glass. These materials were crushed to achieve a particle size distribution similar to the Apollo 16 samples 64501 and 64500. A small amount of OB-1 remains at Deltion Innovations.
A modified version referred to as CHENOBI (or Chenobi) used plasma-melted Shawmere Anorthosite for the glassy component instead of the olivine slag. Detlion contracted with Zybek Advanced Productst to produce plasma slag. The Canadian Space Agency currently has approximately 500kg remaining from a 1 tonne lot purchased. NASA Glenn Research Center purchased 400kg and reportedly has 100kg pristine material remaining.
Pulblications:
Sigurdson, L., J. Richard, 2009. “CHENOBI: CHemically ENhanced OB-1 Lunar Highlands Regolith Physical Simulant”, 6th Annual Planetary and Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium.
Sigurdson, L., J. Richard, 2009. “Development of CHENOBI Lunar Highlands Regolith Simulant”, 2009 Lunar Regolith Simulant Workshop
Sigurdson, L., J. Richard, 2007. “OB-1 Lunar Highlands Regolith Physical Simulant”, 4th Annual Planetary and Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium
Images
OB-1 from Rickman et al. 2013:
Chenobi from Rickman et al. 2013:
