The global distribution of pure anorthosite on the Moon

Details The global distribution of pure anorthosite on the Moon The global distribution of pure anorthosite on the Moon

Sep 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009natur.461..236o&link_type=abstract

Nature, Volume 461, Issue 7261, pp. 236-240 (2009).

Mathematics

Logic

59

Scientific paper

It has been thought that the lunar highland crust was formed by the crystallization and floatation of plagioclase from a global magma ocean, although the actual generation mechanisms are still debated. The composition of the lunar highland crust is therefore important for understanding the formation of such a magma ocean and the subsequent evolution of the Moon. The Multiband Imager on the Selenological and Engineering Explorer (SELENE) has a high spatial resolution of optimized spectral coverage, which should allow a clear view of the composition of the lunar crust. Here we report the global distribution of rocks of high plagioclase abundance (approaching 100vol.%), using an unambiguous plagioclase absorption band recorded by the SELENE Multiband Imager. If the upper crust indeed consists of nearly 100vol.% plagioclase, this is significantly higher than previous estimates of 82-92vol.% (refs 2, 6, 7), providing a valuable constraint on models of lunar magma ocean evolution.

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