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Friday, Sept. 18, 1970
University Daily Kansan
Moon's Silicate Composition Indicated by Rock Samples
By HARVEY HASLER Kansan Staff Writer
Edward J. Zeller, professor of geology and physics, said scientists were surprised by some of the results they found from studies of moon rocks.
Zeller spent part of last summer at the University of Bern, Switzerland, where he had a chance to study sample rocks brought back from the moon.
The University of Bern has the third largest collection of lunar material outside the United States. They have about 110 samples of various types of rock.
ZELLER SAID the gas content of the moon rocks was very high. The gasses come from the sun, hit the surface of the moon and are imbedded in the rock.
Zeller explained that erosion from the bombardment of gasses was slight, adding that "most of the erosion is caused by micrometeorites, which are small particles of matter floating freely in space."
Zeller said the composition of the moon was mostly silicates, the basic ingredient of glass. As
Med Center Registrar To Retire
After 28 years on the staff of the University of Kansas, Mrs. George Hiatt, retired Tuesday as the registrar at the Medical Center in Kansas City.
Mrs. Hiatt, who lives at 4412 Francis, Kansas City, Kan, had been registrar at the University of Kansas Medical Center since the fall semester of 1946.
Four years before being named registrar, Mrs. Hiatt was employed as a secretary to Dr. Ole Stoland, who was in charge of the Medical Center admissions.
Her husband, who recently retired as supervisor of science in the Kansas City, Kan., school system, came to Kansas City to teach in 1946 and she came with him to her new position.
Hiatt, who teaches science part-time at the Kansas City, Kan., Community Junior College, also taught many years at Rose-dale high school.
Mrs. Hiatt said she would now have time to do the things she had wanted to do for many years. Her husband plans to join her soon in complete retirement, she said.
A reception was given in Mrs. Hiatt's honor Tuesday in the Francisco Lounge at the Medical Center.
micro-meteorites strike the moon, they cause enough heat to melt the silicate compounds, which accounts for the large amount of glass found, Zeller said.
Little erosion takes place on the surface of the moon. Zeller said, "a footprint on the moon will probably last about a million years."
No organic compounds were found, prompting Zeller to comment, "this indicates there has never been life on the moon."
ALTHOUGH most scientists had expected to find more carbon and metals on the moon, Zeller said there was little of either.
Zeller also said there was no evidence there had ever been water on the moon which would account for most of the clear crystals. On earth most crystals which are transparent have a milky color to them because of water in the structure.
"SOME EVIDENCE indicates that radiation has effected the rocks on the moon," Zeller said, "but not as much as would have been expected."
Since there is no atmosphere to protect the moon from the sun's many radiation, scientists thought there would be more discernible effects from it.
"There were crystals ranging from clear to very dark," said Zeller, "but most of them were clear."
Zeller said that when most crystals were exposed to radiation they changed color, usually turning darker.
Before the astronauts landed on the moon, some people thought there would be a thick layer of dust which would not support the weight of a man.
Actually, Zellersaid , "the surface of the moon is fairly solid, about like a sandy beach."
FREE Rock Concert
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