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Compositional diversity and geologic insights of the Aristarchus crater from Moon Mineralogy Mapper data

January 1, 2011

The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) acquired high spatial and spectral resolution data of the Aristarchus Plateau with 140 m/pixel in 85 spectral bands from 0.43 to 3.0 m. The data were collected as radiance and converted to reflectance using the observational constraints and a solar spectrum scaled to the Moon-Sun distance. Summary spectral parameters for the area of mafic silicate 1 and 2 m bands were calculated from the M3 data and used to map the distribution of key units that were then analyzed in detail with the spectral data. This analysis focuses on five key compositional units in the region. (1) The central peaks are shown to be strongly enriched in feldspar and are likely from the upper plagioclase-rich crust of the Moon. (2) The impact melt is compositionally diverse with clear signatures of feldspathic crust, olivine, and glass. (3) The crater walls and ejecta show a high degree of spatial heterogeneity and evidence for massive breccia blocks. (4) Olivine, strongly concentrated on the rim, wall, and exterior of the southeastern quadrant of the crater, is commonly associated the impact melt. (5) There are at least two types of glass deposits observed: pyroclastic glass and impact glass. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.

Publication Year 2011
Title Compositional diversity and geologic insights of the Aristarchus crater from Moon Mineralogy Mapper data
DOI 10.1029/2010JE003726
Authors J.F. Mustard, C.M. Pieters, P.J. Isaacson, J.W. Head, S. Besse, R. N. Clark, R.L. Klima, N.E. Petro, M.I. Staid, J.M. Sunshine, C.J. Runyon, S. Tompkins
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets
Index ID 70034937
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Crustal Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center