Publication Date:
2013-02-13
Description:
[1] The Marius Hills (~13.4°N, 304.6ºE) are the largest concentration of volcanic features on the Moon, includes domes, cones, sinuous rilles, and pyroclastic deposits, representing a significant episode of magmatic activity at or near the lunar surface that is still poorly understood. Comparisons between LROC NAC block populations, Mini-RF data, and Diviner-derived rock abundances confirm that domes of the Marius Hills are composed of blocky lava flows. 8-µm features measured by Diviner indicate that the domes are not rich in silica and are not significantly different than surrounding mare materials. LROC observations indicate that some of the dome-building lava flows originated directly from volcanic cones..Many of the cones are C-shaped, while others are irregularly-shaped. Cone shapes are affected by local topography and lava eruptions.In general, the cones are morphologically similar to terrestrial cinder and lava cones and are composed of varying amounts of cinder, spatter, and lava. Many of the cones are found inlocal groupings or alignments.The wide range of volcanic features, from broad low domes to steep cones, represents a range of variable eruption conditions. Complex morphologies and variable layering shows that eruption conditions were variable over the plateau.
Print ISSN:
0148-0227
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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