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Evidence for a high-magnesium subsurface basalt in Mare Crisium from orbital X-ray fluorescence dataOrbital X-ray fluorescence data taken by the Apollo 15 mission over Mare Crisium are analyzed in order to detect surface occurrences of the magnesium-rich materials found in the Luna 24 core sample. Apollo 15 data of the surface soils of the Luna 24 landing site, expressed as Al/Si and Mg/Si ratios, are found to be well correlated with the composition of the less than 74 micron fraction of the core sample. Orbital data indicate that most surface areas of the southern part of Mare Crisium have magnesium contents lower than or equal to that of the landing site, with the exception of areas in the vicinities of the post-mare craters Picard and Pierce and an area northeast of the Luna 24 site. The crater material is interpreted to be a magnesium-rich subsurface basalt excavated by crater formation, which may represent the material from which magnesium-rich Luna 24 samples, including olivine gabbro and olivine vitrophyre, were derived.
Document ID
19790048489
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Andre, C. G.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Adler, I.
(Maryland, University College Park, Md., United States)
Wolfe, R. W.
(National Air and Space Museum Washington, D.C., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1978
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: Mare Crisium: The view from Luna 24; Conference
Location: Houston, TX
Start Date: December 1, 1977
End Date: December 3, 1977
Sponsors: NSF
Accession Number
79A32502
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-21-002-368
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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