The formation of Hadley Rille and implications for the geology of the Apollo 15 regionThe results of studies of terrestrial lava tube systems and the regional and detailed site geology of the Apollo 15 area have been combined to develop a model for the formation of Hadley Rille. The regional geology of the Apennine bench formation and its relation to Mozart and Hadley Rilles is discussed. It is shown that the total thickness of mare basalt at the Apollo landing site is on the order of a few tens of meters, mostly less than 50 m. It is suggested that the role of thermal erosion in the development of sinuous rilles on the moon may be less important than previously assumed and that the assimilation of refractory highland rock types into mare basaltic magma is a minor lunar process.
Document ID
19890023496
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Spudis, Paul D. (USGS, Branch of Astrogeology, Flagstaff AZ, United States)
Swann, Gordon A. (Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Greeley, Ronald (Arizona State University Tempe, United States)