{ "spore": "profile", "id": "greenspar-anorthosite-simulant", "spore_version": "0.2", "family": "regolith", "name": "GreenSpar anorthosite lunar highlands simulant", "abbreviation": "GreenSpar", "role": "Basic physical simulant of lunar highlands soil for geotechnical, abrasion and dust tests", "category": "regolith", "type": "lunar-simulants", "summary": "GreenSpar is a surface anorthosite from Greenland, sold in two size fractions (GreenSpar 250 and GreenSpar 90) as a lunar highlands simulant component. The Gruener et al. (2020) abstract gives a CIPW norm of 94 wt% plagioclase and an AN number of 83, which resemble the lunar highlands. It has no glass or agglutinate, and its size distribution does not copy lunar regolith.", "best_for": "Early geotechnical, abrasion and dust tests that need a plagioclase-rich highlands material, where the full lunar particle size distribution is not required (NASA ARES recommendation).", "weakest_at": "Lunar particle size and glass content: ARES says it does not replicate the particle size distribution of lunar regolith and has no agglutinate or glass component.", "identity": { "formula": "Calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar rock (anorthosite) from the White Mountain deposit in Greenland, about 94 wt% plagioclase by CIPW norm, with minor pyroxene and quartz. The end member anorthite is CaAl2Si2O8.", "crystal_system": "Triclinic (anorthite end member)", "space_group": "P 1 (low), anorthite end member", "designations": [ { "system": "Trade name", "code": "GreenSpar", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Overview paragraph" }, { "system": "Trade name", "code": "GreenSpar 250", "note": "product size, below 250 µm", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Overview paragraph" }, { "system": "Trade name", "code": "GreenSpar 90", "note": "product size, below 90 µm", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Overview paragraph" } ], "source": "handbook-anorthite", "where": "Mineral Data Publishing handbook entry for anorthite: Chemistry line (CaAl2 Si2 O8) and Cell Data (space group)" }, "tags": { "environments": [], "stresses": [], "applications": [ "rovers-and-surface-systems", "mechanisms", "in-space-manufacturing" ] }, "properties": [ { "benchmark": "specific_gravity", "label": "Specific gravity", "value": 2.6, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "value printed in the ARES Geomechanical Properties table for GreenSpar; no test method is given on the page" }, "method": "Value printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Geomechanical Properties table, Specific Gravity column", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Geomechanical Properties table, Specific Gravity (g/cm 3) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "hardness", "label": "Hardness (Mohs scale)", "value": 6, "value_high": 6.5, "bound": "range", "unit": "Mohs scale", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "state": "range as printed on the ARES GreenSpar page" }, "method": "Range printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Geomechanical Properties table, Hardness column", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Geomechanical Properties table, Hardness (Mohs scale) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "particle_size_range", "label": "Particle size range, as printed", "value": 5, "value_high": 250, "bound": "range", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "printed as < 5 - 250 µm; the lower end is a less-than limit, so 5 is the printed limit and not a measured minimum" }, "method": "Range printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, General Properties table, Particle Size Range column", "status": "ground", "note": "Gruener et al. (2020) give a laser-based range of 3 to 250 µm for the same material (see the next group of rows).", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "General Properties table, Particle Size Range (µm) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "plagioclase_modal", "label": "Plagioclase, modal abundance (ARES)", "value": 90, "bound": "lower", "unit": "vol%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "printed as > 90 vol% in the ARES Modal Mineralogy table; no method is given" }, "method": "Value printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Modal Mineralogy table, GreenSpar Abundance column, Plagioclase row", "status": "ground", "note": "The Gruener et al. (2020) X-ray diffraction value for plagioclase is about 82 wt%, a different basis (weight, not volume); both are kept.", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Modal Mineralogy table, Plagioclase row", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "sio2", "label": "Silicon dioxide (GreenSpar Hudson Resources column)", "value": 50.69, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "major-element analysis from the supplier, column printed as GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Major Element Chemistry table, Hudson Resources column", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, SiO2 row, GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "al2o3", "label": "Aluminium oxide (GreenSpar Hudson Resources column)", "value": 30.47, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "major-element analysis from the supplier, column printed as GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Major Element Chemistry table, Hudson Resources column", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, Al2O3 row, GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "fe2o3", "label": "Iron(III) oxide (GreenSpar Hudson Resources column)", "value": 0.44, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "major-element analysis from the supplier, column printed as GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Major Element Chemistry table, Hudson Resources column", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, Fe2O3 row, GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "mgo", "label": "Magnesium oxide (GreenSpar Hudson Resources column)", "value": 0.31, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "major-element analysis from the supplier, column printed as GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Major Element Chemistry table, Hudson Resources column", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, MgO row, GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "cao", "label": "Calcium oxide (GreenSpar Hudson Resources column)", "value": 14.64, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "major-element analysis from the supplier, column printed as GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Major Element Chemistry table, Hudson Resources column", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, CaO row, GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "na2o", "label": "Sodium oxide (GreenSpar Hudson Resources column)", "value": 2.44, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "major-element analysis from the supplier, column printed as GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Major Element Chemistry table, Hudson Resources column", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, Na2O row, GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "k2o", "label": "Potassium oxide (GreenSpar Hudson Resources column)", "value": 0.19, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "major-element analysis from the supplier, column printed as GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed on the ARES GreenSpar page, Major Element Chemistry table, Hudson Resources column", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, K2O row, GreenSpar (Hudson Resources) column", "source_detail": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" } }, { "benchmark": "plagioclase_cipw_norm", "label": "Plagioclase content, CIPW norm", "value": 94, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "CIPW norm calculated from the Hudson Resources XRF chemistry, as reported by Gruener et al. (2020)", "material": "GreenSpar, White Mountain anorthosite, Greenland" }, "method": "Value stated in the Introduction of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract, Greenland anorthosite paragraph", "status": "ground", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Introduction, Greenland anorthosite paragraph; CIPW Norm paragraph", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "an_number", "label": "AN number (plagioclase anorthite content index)", "value": 83, "bound": "exact", "unit": "-", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "AN number as printed in the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract; the paper gives no unit" }, "method": "Value stated in the Introduction of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract, Greenland anorthosite paragraph", "status": "ground", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Introduction, Greenland anorthosite paragraph", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "sio2", "label": "Silicon dioxide (Gruener et al. Table 1 average)", "value": 50.18, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "average weight percent, XRF data provided by Hudson Resources; column GreenSpar [1] on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 1 of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract, Major Oxides, SiO2 row", "status": "ground", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Table 1, Major Oxides, SiO2 row", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "al2o3", "label": "Aluminium oxide (Gruener et al. Table 1 average)", "value": 30.88, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "average weight percent, XRF data provided by Hudson Resources; column GreenSpar [1] on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 1 of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract, Major Oxides, Al2O3 row", "status": "ground", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Table 1, Major Oxides, Al2O3 row", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "cao", "label": "Calcium oxide (Gruener et al. Table 1 average)", "value": 14.58, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "average weight percent, XRF data provided by Hudson Resources; column GreenSpar [1] on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 1 of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract, Major Oxides, CaO row", "status": "ground", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Table 1, Major Oxides, CaO row", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "na2o", "label": "Sodium oxide (Gruener et al. Table 1 average)", "value": 2.63, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "average weight percent, XRF data provided by Hudson Resources; column GreenSpar [1] on the ARES page" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 1 of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract, Major Oxides, Na2O row", "status": "ground", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Table 1, Major Oxides, Na2O row", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "plagioclase_xrd", "label": "Plagioclase content, X-ray diffraction", "value": 82, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "approximately 82 wt% by X-ray diffraction, whole pattern fitting and Rietveld refinement (Knudsen et al. data as cited by Gruener et al.)" }, "method": "Value stated in the Greenland anorthosite paragraph of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract", "status": "ground", "note": "The paper gives the value as approximately 82 wt%; it is a different method and basis from the CIPW norm of 94 wt%, and both are kept.", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Introduction, CIPW Norm paragraph (XRD sentence)", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "pyroxene_xrd", "label": "Pyroxene content, as stated", "value": 5, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "approximately 5 wt% pyroxene, as stated in the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract" }, "method": "Value stated in the CIPW Norm paragraph of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract", "status": "ground", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Introduction, CIPW Norm paragraph", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "quartz_xrd", "label": "Quartz content, as stated", "value": 7, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "approximately 7 wt% quartz, as stated in the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract" }, "method": "Value stated in the CIPW Norm paragraph of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract", "status": "ground", "note": "Quartz is about 7 wt% here, against 1 to 5 wt% on the supplier SDS and 6.37 wt% total crystalline silica in the NASA users guide.", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Introduction, CIPW Norm paragraph", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "mass_loss_on_heating", "label": "Loss on heating up to 1000 °C", "value": 0.8, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "approximately 0.8 wt% loss through heating up to 1000 °C, as stated in the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract" }, "method": "Value stated in the Introduction of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract, thermal and evolved gas analysis paragraph", "status": "ground", "note": "CO2 is the most significant gas released, probably from the calcite present in the material, according to the abstract.", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Introduction, thermal and evolved gas analysis paragraph", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "particle_size_range", "label": "Particle size range, laser analysis", "value": 3, "value_high": 250, "bound": "range", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "laser particle size distribution of the GreenSpar 250 material, as stated by Gruener et al. (2020)" }, "method": "Range stated in the Greenland anorthosite paragraph of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract", "status": "ground", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Greenland anorthosite paragraph (particle size range sentence)", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "mean_particle_size", "label": "Mean particle size, graphical mean", "value": 76, "bound": "exact", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "graphical mean from laser particle size analysis of GreenSpar 250, as stated by Gruener et al. (2020)" }, "method": "Value stated in the Greenland anorthosite paragraph of the Gruener et al. (2020) abstract", "status": "ground", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Greenland anorthosite paragraph (particle size sentence)", "source_detail": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "sio2", "label": "Silicon dioxide (Wilson, USGS 2020, as tabulated by NASA)", "value": 51, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "bulk chemistry of GreenSpar as tabulated in the NASA users guide, reference Wilson USGS 2020", "material": "GreenSpar, Highlands region" }, "method": "Value printed in the Table 7 GreenSpar row, SiO2 column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "note": "Differs from the 50.69 wt% (Hudson column) and 50.18 wt% (Gruener et al.) values; the three are kept side by side.", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 7 (Lunar regolith simulant bulk chemistry), GreenSpar row, SiO2 column", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "al2o3", "label": "Aluminium oxide (Wilson, USGS 2020, as tabulated by NASA)", "value": 30.6, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "bulk chemistry of GreenSpar as tabulated in the NASA users guide, reference Wilson USGS 2020", "material": "GreenSpar, Highlands region" }, "method": "Value printed in the Table 7 GreenSpar row, Al2O3 column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 7 (Lunar regolith simulant bulk chemistry), GreenSpar row, Al2O3 column", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "cao", "label": "Calcium oxide (Wilson, USGS 2020, as tabulated by NASA)", "value": 14.7, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "bulk chemistry of GreenSpar as tabulated in the NASA users guide, reference Wilson USGS 2020", "material": "GreenSpar, Highlands region" }, "method": "Value printed in the Table 7 GreenSpar row, CaO column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 7 (Lunar regolith simulant bulk chemistry), GreenSpar row, CaO column", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "particle_size_q25", "label": "Particle size, 25th quartile (Q25), GreenSpar 250", "value": 37.5, "bound": "exact", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "average Q25 of percent passing grains for GreenSpar (250 µm), reference Clark 2021 (JSC-ARES)", "region": "Highlands" }, "method": "Value printed in the Table 10 GreenSpar (250µm) row, Q25 column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 10 (Lunar regolith simulant PSD), GreenSpar (250µm) row, Q25 column", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "median_particle_size_d50", "label": "Particle size, median (Q50), GreenSpar 250", "value": 78, "bound": "exact", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "average Q50 of percent passing grains for GreenSpar (250 µm), reference Clark 2021 (JSC-ARES)", "region": "Highlands" }, "method": "Value printed in the Table 10 GreenSpar (250µm) row, Q50 column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "note": "The Gruener et al. graphical mean is 76 µm on a different basis; the two are kept.", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 10 (Lunar regolith simulant PSD), GreenSpar (250µm) row, Q50 column", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "particle_size_q75", "label": "Particle size, 75th quartile (Q75), GreenSpar 250", "value": 141.2, "bound": "exact", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "average Q75 of percent passing grains for GreenSpar (250 µm), reference Clark 2021 (JSC-ARES)", "region": "Highlands" }, "method": "Value printed in the Table 10 GreenSpar (250µm) row, Q75 column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 10 (Lunar regolith simulant PSD), GreenSpar (250µm) row, Q75 column", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "aspect_ratio", "label": "Particle aspect ratio (bulk, image analysis)", "value": 0.62, "bound": "exact", "unit": "-", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "bulk AR value, SDL 2022 (JSC-ARES) particle images, as printed in the NASA users guide" }, "method": "Value printed in the Table 13 GreenSpar row, AR column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 13 (Lunar regolith simulant particle geometry), GreenSpar row, AR column", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "sqrt_form_factor", "label": "Root form factor (bulk, image analysis)", "value": 0.9, "bound": "exact", "unit": "-", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "bulk root form factor value printed as 0.90, SDL 2022 (JSC-ARES) particle images" }, "method": "Value printed in the Table 13 GreenSpar row, root FF column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 13 (Lunar regolith simulant particle geometry), GreenSpar row, root FF column", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "crystalline_silica_total", "label": "Total crystalline silica, 2022 analysis", "value": 6.37, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "total percent crystalline silica for GreenSpar (Greenland Anorthosite), analysis symbol printed as § (2022); the symbol key is not in the text read" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 25, GreenSpar (Greenland Anorthosite) row, Total Percent Crystalline Silica column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "note": "The same table gives 3.33 percent passing under 10 µm, which the printed table does not give a unit for, so it is not recorded here.", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 25 (Summary of total percent crystalline and respirable silica), GreenSpar (Greenland Anorthosite) row", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "respirable_crystalline_silica", "label": "Total respirable crystalline silica, 2022 analysis", "value": 0.16, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "total respirable crystalline silica for GreenSpar (Greenland Anorthosite), analysis symbol printed as § (2022)" }, "method": "Value printed in Table 25, GreenSpar (Greenland Anorthosite) row, Total Respirable Crystalline Silica column, of the NASA users guide", "status": "ground", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 25 (Summary of total percent crystalline and respirable silica), GreenSpar (Greenland Anorthosite) row", "source_detail": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" } }, { "benchmark": "melting_point", "label": "Melting point, product as named on the SDS (Calcium Feldspar)", "value": 1300, "value_high": 1350, "bound": "range", "unit": "°C", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "range printed as 1300 - 1350°C on the supplier SDS, whose product name is Calcium Feldspar" }, "method": "Range printed in SDS Section 9 (Physical and Chemical Properties), Melting Point row", "status": "ground", "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 9, MELTING POINT row", "source_detail": { "title": "Safety Data Sheet, Calcium Feldspar (Hudson Resources Inc.), Rev 2", "id": "SDS dated January 11, 2016, last revised September 24, 2019", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/_resources/GreenSpar_CalciumFeldspar_SDS_9_24_2019.pdf", "year": 2019, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "quartz_content", "label": "Quartz (silicon dioxide), average weight share on the SDS", "value": 1, "value_high": 5, "bound": "range", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "average weight share printed as 1 – 5% in the SDS Section 3 table, column Average WT %" }, "method": "Range printed in SDS Section 3 (Composition), Silicon Dioxide, Quartz row", "status": "ground", "note": "The SDS lists this as Silicon Dioxide, Quartz with CAS 14808-60-7; the NASA users guide gives 6.37 wt% total crystalline silica for a different analysis.", "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 3, Silicon Dioxide, Quartz row, Average WT % column", "source_detail": { "title": "Safety Data Sheet, Calcium Feldspar (Hudson Resources Inc.), Rev 2", "id": "SDS dated January 11, 2016, last revised September 24, 2019", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/_resources/GreenSpar_CalciumFeldspar_SDS_9_24_2019.pdf", "year": 2019, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "feldspar_content", "label": "Feldspar, average weight share on the SDS", "value": 95, "value_high": 99, "bound": "range", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "average weight share printed as 95 - 99% in the SDS Section 3 table, column Average WT %" }, "method": "Range printed in SDS Section 3 (Composition), Feldspar row", "status": "ground", "note": "The CIPW norm gives 94 wt% plagioclase and XRD gives about 82 wt% plagioclase; the three figures are on different bases and are all kept.", "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 3, Feldspar row, Average WT % column", "source_detail": { "title": "Safety Data Sheet, Calcium Feldspar (Hudson Resources Inc.), Rev 2", "id": "SDS dated January 11, 2016, last revised September 24, 2019", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/_resources/GreenSpar_CalciumFeldspar_SDS_9_24_2019.pdf", "year": 2019, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "ph", "label": "pH of a water suspension", "value": 9, "value_high": 10, "bound": "range", "unit": "-", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "printed as 9 – 10 in water suspension on the SDS; pH is a dimensionless number" }, "method": "Range printed in SDS Section 9, pH row", "status": "ground", "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 9, pH row", "source_detail": { "title": "Safety Data Sheet, Calcium Feldspar (Hudson Resources Inc.), Rev 2", "id": "SDS dated January 11, 2016, last revised September 24, 2019", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/_resources/GreenSpar_CalciumFeldspar_SDS_9_24_2019.pdf", "year": 2019, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced" } } ], "corrosion": [ { "environment": "Contact with other materials in storage and use", "headline": "No incompatibility or corrosion test data for GreenSpar in the sources read.", "effect": "The supplier SDS prints 'MATERIALS WITH WHICH SUBSTANCE IS INCOMPATIBLE: None known' and 'STABILITY: Product is stable', but it gives no corrosion test data. The same SDS gives a pH of 9 to 10 in water suspension, so a wet mix is alkaline.", "rating": "unknown", "conditions": { "basis": "SDS statements only; no test on GreenSpar with any metal, coating or electrolyte was found" }, "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 9 (pH row) and Section 10 (Stability and Reactivity)" } ], "risks": { "hazards": [ { "text": "The SDS carries signal word Danger and lists GHS classes STOT RE Category 1, Carcinogenicity Category 1B, Skin Irritant Category 2, Eye Irritant Category 2 and STOT SE Category 3, with the hazard statements 'Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure', 'May cause cancer', 'Causes skin irritation', 'Causes serious eye irritation' and 'May cause respiratory irritation'.", "ghs": [ "H319", "H335", "H340", "H373" ], "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 2 (GHS Hazard Classification and Hazard Statements); the H-codes come from the Section 3 ingredients table, which prints H319, H335, H340 and H373 for feldspar and quartz" }, { "text": "The SDS states 'This product contains Crystalline Silica which is a known carcinogen' and that prolonged or repeated inhalation of respirable crystalline silica from this product 'can cause silicosis, a seriously disabling and fatal lung disease'.", "ghs": [], "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 2 (Chronic) and Section 11 (Toxicological Information, Silicosis)" }, { "text": "The SDS prints exposure limits for inert minerals of ACGIH TWA 10mg/m³ Total Dust, OSHA TWA 15mg/m³ Total Dust and 0.1 mg/m³ Respirable Fraction, with the silicon dioxide, quartz row giving its own limits.", "ghs": [], "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 8 (Exposure Limits/Guidelines) table" }, { "text": "The SDS says 'Exposure to the solid product can be irritating to eyes and skin. Dust generated can be irritating to the respiratory system.'", "ghs": [], "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 2 (Emergency Overview)" } ], "failure_risks": [ { "mode": "Crystalline silica content differs between sources", "trigger": "Using the simulant for dust or health studies without a current analysis of the lot in use", "consequence": "The NASA users guide gives 6.37 wt% total crystalline silica (2022 analysis), the SDS gives quartz as 1 – 5% by weight, and Gruener et al. (2020) state about 7 wt% quartz by XRD. Test results and exposure assessments should use a measured value for the lot in use.", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Table 25, GreenSpar row; SDS Section 3; Gruener et al. CIPW Norm paragraph" }, { "mode": "Particle size does not match lunar regolith", "trigger": "Testing that needs the lunar particle size distribution, such as excavation with pebbles and cobbles", "consequence": "ARES lists as a con that GreenSpar does not replicate the particle size distribution of lunar regolith and is only available in small particle sizes. The users guide says excavation work needs the full particle size distribution of the bulk regolith.", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Cons list on the ARES GreenSpar page" }, { "mode": "No glass or agglutinate component", "trigger": "Sintering, dust or surface tests that depend on glass or agglutinate particles", "consequence": "ARES lists 'No agglutinate or glass component' as a con. Gruener et al. (2020) state that a higher-fidelity simulant would likely need glass, other rocks or minerals, and agglutinates added to GreenSpar.", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Cons list on the ARES GreenSpar page; Gruener et al. Discussion" } ], "side_effects": [ { "text": "Heating releases gas; the abstract gives about 0.8 wt% loss through heating up to 1000 °C, with CO2 the most significant gas, probably from calcite.", "affects": "Vacuum and high-temperature rigs, and sample weight measurements", "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Thermal and evolved gas analysis paragraph" }, { "text": "The SDS says 'Dust may cause eye, nasal or bronchial irritation' in the Section 11 symptoms of exposure.", "affects": "Operators and the test rig surroundings", "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 11 (Toxicological Information), Irritancy and Symptoms of Exposure" } ], "handling": [ { "text": "Use local exhaust ventilation to control airborne dust, and wear safety glasses or chemical goggles where dusting is possible.", "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 8 (Ventilation and Engineering Controls; Eye Protection)" }, { "text": "Clean up dry powder with a HEPA vacuum or by wetting it with water; avoid dry sweeping and compressed air.", "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 6 (Spills) and Section 7 (Storage and Handling Practices)" }, { "text": "Wash skin after handling, and do not eat, drink or smoke while handling the product.", "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 7 (Work Practices and Hygiene Practices)" } ], "mitigations": [ { "text": "Use respiratory protection only where it is authorised under the OSHA respiratory protection standard, when airborne concentrations cannot be kept below the listed guidelines.", "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 8 (Respiratory Protection)" } ] }, "uses": [ { "application": "rovers-and-surface-systems", "device": "Loose and compacted soil beds for geotechnical tests", "example": "ARES recommends GreenSpar for geotechnical testing that involves loose or compacted simulant.", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Recommendation section" }, { "application": "mechanisms", "device": "Samples for dust mitigation and abrasion tests", "example": "ARES also recommends GreenSpar for dust and dust mitigation testing and for abrasion testing. Gruener et al. (2020) say the quartz in it may help simulate the abrasiveness of lunar regolith.", "source": "ares-greenspar", "where": "Recommendation section; Gruener et al. Discussion" }, { "application": "in-space-manufacturing", "device": "Early tests of high-temperature processes (sintering and oxygen or metal production)", "example": "The NASA users guide says early high-temperature process work, including laser or microwave sintering, can use a basic simulant such as GreenSpar before moving to an enhanced simulant.", "source": "nasa-guide-2024", "where": "Section 3.7.1 (High Temperature Processes)" } ], "supply": [ { "subject": "Feldspar (plagioclase, the main mineral group in GreenSpar)", "abundance": "The USGS feldspar chapter gives world mine production of about 31,000 thousand t in 2025 (estimated, rounded), with the leading producing countries accounting for 74% of the world total.", "producers": [ { "country": "India", "share_percent": 19.4, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Turkey", "share_percent": 17.1, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Iran", "share_percent": 12.6, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "China", "share_percent": 11.9, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Italy", "share_percent": 7.1, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Thailand", "share_percent": 6.1, "year": 2025 } ], "critical_lists": [ { "list": "EU critical raw materials list (Regulation (EU) 2024/1252), where the EC page prints Feldspar among the listed materials", "listed": true } ], "recycling": "USGS: feldspar and nepheline syenite are not recycled by producers, although glass container producers use cullet, which reduces feldspar consumption.", "substitutes": [ "USGS: feldspar can be replaced in some end uses by clays, electric furnace slag, feldspar-silica mixtures, pyrophyllite, spodumene, or talc." ], "source": "usgs-mcs2026-feldspar", "where": "World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025 column (shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the printed world total of 31,000 thousand t); Recycling; Substitutes; EU list on the EC critical raw materials page" }, { "subject": "Anorthosite (GreenSpar feedstock, Greenland)", "producers": [ { "country": "Greenland" } ], "critical_lists": [], "recycling": "Not stated in the sources read.", "substitutes": [], "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Greenland anorthosite paragraph: Hudson Resources mines surface-exposed anorthosite at the White Mountain Anorthosite Project, about 85 km southwest of Kangerlussuaq; the ARES page says the material is primarily mined for E-glass, paint, coating fillers, alumina and white cement" } ], "media": [], "documents": [ { "title": "GreenSpar Safety Data Sheet (Hudson Resources; product named Calcium Feldspar), rev. 2, September 24, 2019", "type": "sds", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/_resources/GreenSpar_CalciumFeldspar_SDS_9_24_2019.pdf", "year": 2019 }, { "title": "NASA JSC ARES: Lunar regolith simulants, GreenSpar", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021 }, { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Rev. A (NASA/TM-20240011783)", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024 }, { "title": "Gruener et al. (2020), Greenland White Mountain anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (LPSC 2020 abstract 2867)", "type": "paper", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020 }, { "title": "USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Feldspar and nepheline syenite", "type": "report", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-feldspar.pdf", "year": 2026 }, { "title": "Handbook of Mineralogy: anorthite (Mineral Data Publishing)", "type": "database", "url": "https://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/anorthite.pdf", "year": 2001 } ], "gaps": [ "Density (rho min and rho max) for GreenSpar is blank in Table 16 of the NASA users guide, so no value is recorded.", "Cohesion and friction angle for GreenSpar are marked n/a in Table 19 of the NASA users guide, and no other shear strength value was found.", "Magnetic susceptibility for GreenSpar (Table 22 of the NASA users guide) is printed as a log of a value in 10-9 m3/kg, which is an exponent form, so it is not recorded.", "The percent passing under 10 µm for GreenSpar in Table 25 of the NASA users guide has no printed unit, so it is not recorded.", "The SDS gives calcium as between 14% and 16% without saying whether it is elemental or as oxide; the ARES calcium oxide values (14.58 and 14.64 wt%) are not comparable with it, so the calcium figure is not recorded.", "The ARES page says Simulant Development Lab analytical results are pending, so no lab-measured result for this lot was found.", "No corrosion, ageing, vacuum, radiation, thermal-cycling or flight test of GreenSpar was found in the sources read.", "The USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals page returned an access block (HTTP 403) during this run, so feldspar was checked only against the EU critical raw materials list.", "No production tonnage or country share for the Greenland anorthosite itself was found; the USGS shares are for feldspar as a whole.", "The oxide sets from the ARES Hudson column, the ARES and Gruener et al. GreenSpar [1] column, and the NASA users guide Table 7 (Wilson 2020) differ from one another, and no single preferred set was identified; all are kept with their sources.", "No photograph of GreenSpar with a verified licence was fetched in this run, so the page has no media entry." ], "story": { "why": "GreenSpar is the name Hudson Resources uses for a surface anorthosite mined at its White Mountain Anorthosite Project in Greenland. NASA uses it as a basic lunar highlands simulant: one rock type with no glass component. Its CIPW norm gives 94 wt% plagioclase and an AN number of 83, which resembles the lunar highlands. It was chosen as a cheap, readily available highlands component for early mechanical and dust work, not as a full copy of lunar soil. ARES describes it as among the most readily available sources of large quantities of anorthosite.", "uses": [ { "where": "Geotechnical testing", "line": "NASA ARES recommends GreenSpar for geotechnical tests with loose or compacted simulant." }, { "where": "Dust and abrasion testing", "line": "ARES also recommends it for dust mitigation and abrasion tests. Gruener et al. (2020) say its quartz content may help simulate the abrasiveness of lunar regolith." }, { "where": "High-temperature process tests", "line": "The NASA users guide says early sintering and oxygen or metal production work can use GreenSpar as a basic simulant, before moving to a more lunar-like enhanced simulant." } ], "can_do": [ { "label": "Geotechnical tests", "line": "Loose or compacted beds of GreenSpar are the use ARES recommends first, with a specific gravity of 2.6 g/cm3 on its page.", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Abrasion", "line": "ARES gives a Mohs hardness of 6 to 6.5 and says the quartz content makes it a strong abradant. Quartz is about 7 wt% by XRD in Gruener et al. (2020).", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Particle size", "line": "For GreenSpar 250, the NASA users guide gives Q25, Q50 and Q75 values of 37.5, 78 and 141.2 µm (Clark 2021, JSC-ARES). ARES says the material does not replicate the particle size distribution of lunar regolith.", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Crystalline silica", "line": "The 2022 analysis in the NASA users guide gives 6.37 wt% total crystalline silica and 0.16 wt% respirable crystalline silica. The SDS gives quartz as 1 to 5 wt%, so the lot in use should be measured.", "scope": "material" } ], "compare": "NASA's users guide ranks GreenSpar as a basic simulant, which means one rock type, no glass component and no attempt to match the lunar particle size distribution. Enhanced highlands simulants such as NUW-LHT-5M add synthetic glass to match Apollo 16 soil chemistry, so they are closer to lunar soil; the users guide notes that cost rises as more lunar attributes are added. The table below sets out how GreenSpar's particle size, density and silica figures compare with the properties recorded here.", "compare_rows": [ { "label": "Density (specific gravity)", "benchmark": "specific_gravity", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Median particle size", "benchmark": "median_particle_size_d50", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Total crystalline silica", "benchmark": "crystalline_silica_total", "scope": "material" } ], "handling": [ "Use local exhaust ventilation and wear safety glasses or goggles where dust is possible (SDS Section 8).", "Clean up dust with a HEPA vacuum or wet it first; do not dry sweep or use compressed air (SDS Sections 6 and 7).", "Do not treat the powder as silica-free: the SDS says it contains crystalline silica, a known carcinogen.", "Wash after handling and keep food and drink out of the work area." ], "good_for": [ "Geotechnical tests with loose or compacted material, which ARES recommends first.", "Abrasion and dust tests where a quartz-bearing, plagioclase-rich material is wanted." ], "watch_out": [ "Particle size: ARES says it does not replicate the particle size distribution of lunar regolith and is available only in fine sizes.", "Silica: the 2022 analysis gives 6.37 wt% total crystalline silica, but the SDS gives quartz as 1 to 5 wt%, so do not assume the lower figure.", "Oxide chemistry differs by source: SiO2 is 50.69 wt% in the Hudson column, 50.18 wt% in the Gruener et al. table and 51 wt% in the NASA users guide.", "No glass or agglutinate: ARES lists this as a con, and the users guide says a higher-fidelity simulant would need glass." ], "verdict": "A basic highlands simulant for early geotechnical, abrasion and dust tests. It is not a match for lunar particle size or glass content.", "recipe": { "line": "GreenSpar is a rock, not one compound. It is an anorthosite made mostly of calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar (CIPW norm 94 wt%, X-ray diffraction about 82 wt%), with minor pyroxene (about 5 wt%) and quartz (about 7 wt% by XRD). Anorthosite is an intrusive igneous rock made mostly of plagioclase feldspar (Wikipedia). The product is sold in two size fractions, GreenSpar 250 and GreenSpar 90.", "parts": [ { "name": "Plagioclase feldspar (calcium-rich, AN 83)", "role": "Main mineral; the calcium-rich feldspar that gives the simulant its highlands-like chemistry.", "share_percent": 94, "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Introduction, CIPW Norm paragraph (CIPW norm); XRD gives about 82 wt%" }, { "name": "Quartz (silicon dioxide, crystalline)", "symbol": "SiO2", "role": "Crystalline silica: adds abrasiveness and is the source of the crystalline silica hazard.", "share_percent": 1, "share_high": 5, "source": "sds-greenspar", "where": "Section 3, Silicon Dioxide, Quartz row, Average WT % column" }, { "name": "Pyroxene", "role": "Minor mafic mineral in the rock.", "share_percent": 5, "source": "gruener-2020", "where": "Introduction, CIPW Norm paragraph (XRD sentence)" } ] }, "risk_groups": [ { "title": "For people", "lead": "The supplier SDS carries signal word Danger, mainly because the powder contains crystalline silica.", "points": [ { "label": "Dust", "line": "The SDS says dust is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory system, and advises local exhaust ventilation and goggles where dusting is possible." }, { "label": "Lungs and cancer", "line": "The SDS says the material contains crystalline silica, a known carcinogen, and that prolonged inhalation can cause silicosis." }, { "label": "Exposure limits", "line": "The SDS prints OSHA TWA 15mg/m³ total dust and 0.1 mg/m³ respirable fraction for inert minerals." } ], "level": 3, "verdict": "Hazardous: contains crystalline silica" }, { "title": "Clean-up and storage", "lead": "Dust control matters most when the powder is moved, poured or cleaned up.", "points": [ { "label": "Clean-up", "line": "Use a HEPA vacuum or wet the dust first; the SDS says to avoid dry sweeping and compressed air." }, { "label": "Wet mixes", "line": "A water suspension has a pH of 9 to 10 according to the SDS, so it is alkaline." } ], "level": 1, "verdict": "Use HEPA or wet clean-up" } ] }, "updated": "2026-11-02", "review": { "status": "draft", "method": "assistant", "checked_values": 37, "unreachable": 0, "caveats": 6, "note": "Read in one run on 2026-11-02 from the ARES page, the NASA users guide PDF, the Gruener et al. LPSC 2020 abstract, the supplier SDS, the USGS feldspar summary, the Handbook of Mineralogy entry and the EC critical raw materials page. Values that differ between sources are kept side by side." }, "sources": { "ares-greenspar": { "title": "NASA JSC ARES, Lunar Regolith Simulants: GreenSpar", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/greenspar.html", "year": 2021, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "NASA public web page" }, "gruener-2020": { "title": "Greenland 'White Mountain' anorthosite: a new lunar polar regolith simulant component (51st LPSC, abstract 2867)", "id": "LPSC 2020, abstract 2867; J. E. Gruener et al.", "url": "https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/2867.pdf", "year": 2020, "kind": "paper", "license": "Conference abstract, cited not reproduced" }, "nasa-guide-2024": { "title": "Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide, Revision A", "id": "NASA/TM-20240011783 (NTRS 20240011783)", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20240011783/downloads/Lunar_Regolith_Simulant_Users_Guide_Rev_A_28OCT.pdf", "year": 2024, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (NASA)" }, "sds-greenspar": { "title": "Safety Data Sheet, Calcium Feldspar (Hudson Resources Inc.), Rev 2", "id": "SDS dated January 11, 2016, last revised September 24, 2019", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/_resources/GreenSpar_CalciumFeldspar_SDS_9_24_2019.pdf", "year": 2019, "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced" }, "usgs-mcs2026-feldspar": { "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Feldspar and Nepheline Syenite", "id": "USGS MCS 2026, February 2026", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-feldspar.pdf", "year": 2026, "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (USGS)" }, "handbook-anorthite": { "title": "Handbook of Mineralogy: Anorthite", "id": "Mineral Data Publishing, version 1.2", "url": "https://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/anorthite.pdf", "year": 2001, "kind": "handbook", "license": "all rights reserved by Mineral Data Publishing, cited" }, "ec-crm": { "title": "Critical raw materials (European Commission, list under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252)", "id": "Regulation (EU) 2024/1252", "url": "https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials_en", "year": 2024, "kind": "web", "license": "European Commission web page" }, "wikipedia-anorthosite": { "title": "Anorthosite (Wikipedia)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorthosite", "kind": "web", "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)" } }, "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/greenspar-anorthosite-simulant/" }