Nanocrystals of native iron and titanium in impact glasses of the lunar regolith

The results of examining fragments of impact glasses of the regolith samples from Mare Fecunditatis delivered to the Earth by the Luna 16 Soviet automatic station are presented. Nanosize inclusions of native iron and titanium were found in the samples by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is shown that these inclusions are constituted of single-crystalline formations. The high-pressure phase of native ω-titanium was discovered naturally for the first time. The data testifying to the high heterogeneity of the glass matrix of regolith grains are presented. Possible mechanisms of the formation of nanocrystals of the treated native phases are discussed.