Deconvolution of lunar olivine reflectance spectra: Implications for remote compositional assessment

Lunar olivines typically contain inclusions of Cr–spinel (chromite) that influence their measured optical properties. These altered optical properties complicate modeled predictions of olivine composition from reflectance spectra. Approaches developed for inclusion-free terrestrial olivine spectra must be modified to be applied to chromite-bearing lunar olivine spectra. We present a revised approach for predicting the compositions of chromite-bearing lunar olivines using the Modified Gaussian Model (MGM). The results of this revised approach for chromite-bearing lunar olivines are consistent with previous results for terrestrial olivine reflectance spectra, and successfully predict the olivine’s composition. These results are an important step in compositional assessment of remotely-sensed olivine spectra, and are essential to ongoing investigations of that topic. Our results are based on a limited set of available lunar olivine separates, and would be strengthened by the inclusion of additional compositions.