Planetary Simulant Database
Free Resource for Regolith Simulant Information
Mineralogy
No data available
Bulk Chemistry
| Oxide | Wt.% |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 30.99 |
| TiO2 | 0.22 |
| Al2O3 | 3.30 |
| FeO2O3 | 51.73 |
| MgO | 2.07 |
| CaO | 3.14 |
| MnO | 0.43 |
| Na2O | 0.83 |
| K2O | 0.62 |
| P2O5 | 0.17 |
| SO3 | 1.72 |
| Total | 96.10 |
Physical Properties
An extensive description of physical properties is given in Just, G. H. et al. (2020).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum bulk density (g/cm3) | 1.37 |
| Maximum bulk density (g/cm3) | 1.97 |
| Specific gravity | 3.52 |
UoM-B University of Manchester Black
Simulant Name: University of Manchester Black
Availability: May Be Available
Fidelity: Basic
Developed By: University of Manchester
Available From: N/A
Publications: Just, G. H. et al. (2020), Geotechnical Characterisation of Two New Low-Fidelity Lunar Regolith Analogues (UoM-B and UoM-W) for Use in Large-Scale Engineering Experiments. Acta Astronautica, in press.
UoM-B and the companion simulant UoM-W are two basic lunar simulants produced by the University of Manchester. The main constraint was finding a material available in large volumes for low cost, and the simulants are made from existing industrial materials. UoM-B (black) is made from something described as a "volcanic black dust", although the bulk chemistry precludes it from being a simple volcanic rock source, and there may be some kind of slag or iron ore present. The material was supplied by a UK company called "Specialist Aggregates", and other users may be able to purchase those same materials.
