Kupruiluna

Kupruiluna is a copper-rich lunar mineral name proposed in lunar geology literature to refer to a distinctive phase observed in samples from the Moon. It is described as a copper-bearing mineral within impact melt rocks and mare basalts, with a reddish metallic luster visible in high-resolution imaging of the grains. The term combines a reference to copper, from the root cupr-, and luna, Latin for Moon.

Discovery and naming

The name kupruiluna emerged from analyses conducted by researchers affiliated with the International Lunar Mineralogy Network. First reported in the late 21st century, it was named to reflect its copper content and its lunar origin. The designation remains provisional in some contexts, as researchers debate whether kupruiluna represents a discrete mineral species or a geological assemblage of copper-bearing phases.

Composition and properties

Kupruiluna is described as a copper-bearing phase that occurs within a glassy or microcrystalline matrix. Its composition is reported to include copper in oxide and sulfide states, with accompanying iron, sulfur, and silicon in varying proportions. Grain sizes are typically microscopic, and the mineral has a Mohs hardness estimated around 3 to 4. Its appearance ranges from metallic coppery to reddish-bold in polished sections, and its spectroscopic signature helps distinguish it from surrounding mineral phases.

Occurrence and geological context

Kupruiluna is found in several lunar sample suites, notably in mare basalts and impact melt deposits. It tends to occur as intergrowths within glassy matrices or as inclusions in pyroxene-rich clasts. Its measured abundance is generally low, suggesting it is a minor phase in most rocks, though its precise distribution and formation conditions are still under study.

Significance and status

If confirmed as a discrete mineral, kupruiluna would add to the diversity of copper-bearing minerals known from airless bodies. At present, scholars continue to evaluate its crystallography and taxonomy, balancing interpretations as a true mineral species against those as an assemblage of copper-rich phases.