Preliminary geologic investigation of the landing site: Appendix A: lunar surface orientations of Apollo 17 rock samples

The lunar surface orientations of some of the Apollo 17 rock samples at the time of their collection (table 6-V) are shown in this appendix (figs. 6-65 to 6-87). These orientations were determined by correlating lunar photographs of samples before collection with shapes and shadow characteristics of the same samples in the LRL under oblique illumination with nearly collimated light. The light source in the laboratory simulates the Sun. It is important to emphasize that the orientations shown are those at the time of collection and do not necessarily apply to the entire history of the exposure of a rock on the lunar surface. Tumbling and turning of some rock fragments on the lunar surface has already been well documented.