Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
The canonical characterization of the lunar crust is based principally on available Apollo, Luna, and meteorite samples. The crust is described as an anorthosite-rich cumulate produced by the lunar magma ocean that has been infused with a mix of Mgsuite components. These have been mixed and redistributed during the late heavy bombardment and basin forming events. We report a new rock-type detected on the farside of the Moon by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) on Chandrayaan-1 that does not easily fit with current crustal evolution models. The rock-type is dominated by Mg-spinel with no detectible pyroxene or olivine present (〈5%). It occurs along the western inner ring of Moscoviense Basin as one of several discrete areas that exhibit unusual compositions relative to their surroundings but without morphological evidence for separate processes leading to exposure.
Keywords:
Lunar and Planetary Science and Exploration
Type:
M10-0331
,
KAGUYA/Chandrayaan-1 Cross-Calibration meeting; Feb 08, 2010 - Feb 09, 2010; Ahmedabad; India
Format:
application/pdf
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