Physics
Scientific paper
Oct 1969
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1969pepi....2..123k&link_type=abstract
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Volume 2, Issue 2, p. 123-137.
Physics
10
Scientific paper
The lunar ``mascons'' appear to be too big to be caused primarily by the infalling bodies which created the ringed maria. Because these maria are topographic depressions, any other possible causes require that the moon have differentiated a crust prior to creation of the ringed maria. The mechanism of mass transfer which appears most consistent with the low level of geologic activity is the generation of excess pressures consequent upon the more rapid cooling of the outer parts of the moon. These pressures created the mass concentrations primarily by pushing the dense root past isostatic equilibrium in the weak area caused by the impacting body. The morphological evidences of superficial loading indicate, however, that there may also have been lava flows or sedimentation. In addition to mass transfer, there also could have operated mechanisms of densification, the most significant of which appears to be the outgassing of water after the impact, which resulted in the ringed maria not being serpentinized to the same extent as other parts of the moon. Higher thermal conductivity of the mare material may also lead to a lower temperature gradient and hence some increase in density due to thermal contraction. This dehydration of the ringed maria is most strongly indicated by the distribution of sinous rilles. At present, the moon is essentially rigid to at least 160 km depth, and even more if magnetometry in the moon's wake is correctly interpreted as indicating temperatures below 700 °C. Hence the mechanism of support of the mass concentrations since their creation can be pure elastic strength, in contrast to the earth.
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