Physics – Geophysics
Scientific paper
Jan 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998nvmi.conf...78w&link_type=abstract
Workshop on New Views of the Moon: Integrated Remotely Sensed, Geophysical, and Sample Datasets, p. 78
Physics
Geophysics
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Kreep, Lunar Crust, Lunar Maria, Selenology, Lunar Craters, Basalt, Breccia, Lunar Prospector, Cratering, Ejecta
Scientific paper
Recent geophysical analyses of the Imbrium and Serenitatis Basins suggest that the crustal structure beneath these basins is highly anomalous. Specifically, Imbrium and Serenitatis appear to have only excavated material from shallow crustal depths, whereas proportional scaling laws (valid for basins at least as large as Crisium) predict that the entire crustal column, as well as a small fraction of mantle material, should have been excavated during these events. Gamma-ray data from the Apollo and Lunar Prospector missions suggest that the Imbrium and Serenitatis Basins lie within (or on the boundary of) an anomalous nearside high-Th geochemical province. We believe that the anomalous crustal structure associated with the Imbrium and Serenitatis Basins is directly related to these impacts occurring within this anomalous region of the lunar crust. We postulate that the high-Th geochemical province is a manifestation of the final stages of cooling of a global "magma ocean" and that a residual KREEP-rich magma body was located beneath the crust in this region approximately 3.9 Ga. An impact into this province at this time would have led to voluminous KREEP-basalt volcanism (filling in the excavation cavity of these basins), and the dispersal of KREEP-rich ejecta (the Th-rich mafic impact melt breccias). The next two sections discuss our motivation for postulating such a scenario from both the geophysical and geochemical perspective. Following this discussion we expand the hypothesis presented above and end with a list of testable predictions. .
Haskin Larry A.
Jolliff Brad L.
Korotev Randy L.
Phillips James R.
Wieczorek Mark A.
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