Estimation of olivine coloring processes in lunar meteorites by comparing with brown olivine in Martian meteorites

Abstract

Reddish olivine similar to brown olivine in Martian meteorites is reported in lunar meteorite. Our observation of such reddish olivine reveals that they formed by a similar way to that of brown olivine in Martian meteorites because of the presence of similar areas with low crystallinity including iron nano-particles (hematite). Since such nano-particles change reflectance spectra of olivine, we may not notice its presence and need to pay attention to this possibility on any large bodies.