Geochemical anomalies on the eastern limb and farside of the moon

A variety of orbital geochemistry and photogeologic data was used to investigate major geochemical anomalies on the east limb and farside of the moon and to determine the processes responsible for their formation. These anomalies are located in the following regions: (1) near Langemak crater, (2) Mare Marginis, (3) Balmer crater, (4) terrain north of Taruntius crater, and (5) Van de Graaff. It was concluded that these anomalies are related to episodes of extrusive igneous activity which produced deposits with a variety of ages and compositions. Some of the associated volcanic deposits exhibit albedos and surface morphologies similar to those of the nearside maria, while others are now thinly covered by highland debris and are commonly represented by light plains units which exhibit clusters of dark-haloed craters. Little evidence was found for a genuine episode of highland volcanism (e.g., Apollo 15 KREEP basalt, highland basalt, etc.). The existence of intermediate basalts on the eastern limb and farside supports previous suggestions that KREEP-like volcanism was not limited to a small area of the lunar nearside. Eastern limb and farside volcanic activity has been more extensive in both space and time and has produced a greater variety of compositions than has previously been thought. Since thinly covered basaltic units can exert a strong influence on regional surface chemistry as determined from orbit, caution is urged in interpreting the surface compositions of highland terrains which exhibit a high density of dark-haloed impact craters.