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The moon - Sources of the crustal magnetic anomaliesEvidence from low altitude Apollo 16 subsatellite magnetometer measurements of the lunar near side is presented showing that basin and crater ejecta are major sources of lunar magnetic anomalies. It is found that anomalies increase in amplitude and complexity with a decrease in altitude, indicating localized, near surface sources, but it is also found that anomalies are less intense and numerous over maria than over highlands. Also, few anomalies are found to be associated with young craters, eliminating direct shock magnetization as a possible cause, but numerous anomalies are present over formations not flooded by mare basalts. The largest observed anomaly is well correlated with the location of a conspicuous deposit, believed to be crater ejecta, with a mean magnetization level of 5.2 + or - 2.4 x 10 to the -2 electromagnetic units/g. It is also concluded that the magnetization of the lunar crust must have taken place over a period of over one billion years.
Document ID
19790045590
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hood, L. L.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Coleman, P. J., Jr.
(California, University Los Angeles, Calif., United States)
Wilhelms, D. E.
(U.S. Geological Survey Menlo Park, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
April 6, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Volume: 204
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
79A29603
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-05-007-351
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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