Global Silicate Mineralogy of the Moon from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer

We obtained direct global measurements of the lunar surface using multispectral thermal emission mapping with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment. Most lunar terrains have spectral signatures that are consistent with known lunar anorthosite and basalt compositions. H...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2010-09, Vol.329 (5998), p.1507-1509
Main Authors: Greenhagen, Benjamin T, Lucey, Paul G, Wyatt, Michael B, Glotch, Timothy D, Allen, Carlton C, Arnold, Jessica A, Bandfield, Joshua L, Bowles, Neil E, Hanna, Kerri L. Donaldson, Hayne, Paul O, Song, Eugenie, Thomas, Ian R, Paige, David A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anorthosite
Basalt
Cosmochemistry. Extraterrestrial geology
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Earths Moon
Exact sciences and technology
Exposure
Extraterrestrial geology
Feldspars
Lunar composition
Lunar surface
Mineralogy
Minerals
Moon
Plagioclase
Planetology
Radiometers
Silica
Silicates
Thermal emission
Thorium
Wavelengths
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Summary:We obtained direct global measurements of the lunar surface using multispectral thermal emission mapping with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment. Most lunar terrains have spectral signatures that are consistent with known lunar anorthosite and basalt compositions. However, the data have also revealed the presence of highly evolved, silica-rich lunar soils in kilometer-scale and larger exposures, expanded the compositional range of the anorthosites that dominate the lunar crust, and shown that pristine lunar mantle is not exposed at the lunar surface at the kilometer scale. Together, these observations provide compelling evidence that the Moon is a complex body that has experienced a diverse set of igneous processes.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1192196