Planetary Simulant Database
Free Resource for Regolith Simulant Information
Mineralogy
| Component | OPRH2N/H2W | OPRH3N/H3W |
|---|---|---|
| Anorthosite | 70 | 80 |
| Basalt | 20 | 30 |
A more detailed breakdown of the mineralogy is pending for OPR simulants; the average composition for the Shawmere Anorthosite component is:
| Mineral | Vol. % |
|---|---|
| Plagioclase | 97.14 |
| Orthoclase | 1.02 |
| Diopside | 0.18 |
| Hypersthene | 0.41 |
| Olivine | 1.11 |
| Ilmenite | 0.06 |
| Magnetite | 0.07 |
| Apatite | 0.02 |
| Total | 100.01 |
Bulk Chemistry
Bulk chemistry is pending for OPR simulants; The estimated composition for the basalt component is:
| Oxide | Estimated wt. % |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 47.71 |
| Al2O3 | 15.02 |
| CaO | 10.42 |
| MgO | 9.01 |
| FeO | 7.35 |
| Fe2O3 | 3.44 |
| Na2O | 2.70 |
| TiO2 | 1.59 |
| K2O | 0.82 |
| P2O5 | 0.66 |
| MnO | 0.18 |
| Cr2O3 | 0.04 |
| Total | 99.65 |
Reference: https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/strategies/jsc_lunar_simulant.pdf?q=jsc
The average composition for the Shawmere Anorthosite component is:
| Oxide | Wt. % |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 48.28 |
| TiO2 | 0.05 |
| Al2O3 | 32.01 |
| Fe2O3 | 0.09 |
| FeO | 1.34 |
| MnO | 0.01 |
| MgO | 0.22 |
| CaO | 15.43 |
| Na2O | 2.38 |
| K2O | 0.16 |
| P2O5 | 0.01 |
| LOI | 0.39 |
| Total | 100.24 |
Off Planet Research OPRH2N/H2W/H3N/H3W Lunar Highland Simulant
Simulant Name: OPRH2N/H2W/H3N/H3W Lunar Highland Simulant
Availability: Available
Fidelity: Enhanced
Developed By: Off Planet Research, LLC
Available From: Off Planet Research, LLC
Publications: N/A
The OPRH series was developed by Off Planet Research, LLC in the mid 2010s as a general use lunar Highland simulant. OPR’s lunar Highland simulants are made from a combination of Shawmere anorthosite and basalt from the San Francisco formation. These materials were crushed to achieve a particle size distribution similar to Apollo 17 regolith samples. Emphasis has been placed on the particle morphology in order to ensure the abrasiveness of the material and mechanical properties of the simulant are representative of lunar regolith.
The H2N version is representative of the nearside lunar Highlands.
The H2W version is the same as the H2N simulant but also includes agglutinate microstructures.
The H3N version has a higher ratio of anorthosite to basalt compared to H2N to be more representative of the farside Highland regions.
The H3W is the same as the H3N simulant but also includes agglutinate microstructures.
Because OPR crushes their material using specialized equipment, custom Highland regolith simulants can be developed based on known landing site compositions and particle size distributions.
OPR simulants are currently available.
Images
Photograph of OPRH2N from Off Planet Research
Photograph of OPRH2N from Off Planet Research
Photograph of OPRH2W Agglutinates from Off Planet Research
