Compositional variability of the Marius Hills volcanic complex from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M³)

Abstract

[1] Using the Moon Mineralogy Mapper(M 3 ), we examine the Marius Hills volcanic complex for the first time from 0.46 to 2.97 mm. The integrated band depth at 1 mm separates the mare basalts on the plateau in two units: (1) a strong 1 mm band unit of localized lava flows within the plateau that has similar olivine-rich signatures to those of the nearby Oceanus Procellarum and (2) a weaker 1 mm band unit that characterizes most of the basalts of the plateau, which is interpreted as having a high-calcium pyroxene signature. Domes and cones within the complex belong to the high-calcium pyroxene plateau unit and are associated with the weakest 1 mm band observed on the plateau. This difference could be the result of higher silica content, more opaque minerals, and/or a weaker olivine content of the magma. Finally, the floor of Marius crater has one of the strongest olivine-rich signatures of the entire Marius Hills complex. These compositional differences are indicative of the long and complex volcanic history of the region. The first episode started before the emplacement of the surrounding basalts of the plateau and produced the high-calcium pyroxene flows present on the plateau and their associated domes and cones. The second episode occurred concurrently or slightly after the emplacement of the adjacent Procellarum basalts and produced the olivine-rich basalts seen within the plateau, outside the plateau, and in Marius crater. If the olivine content of the lava flows increases with time, the olivinerich region on the floor of Marius crater may represent one of the latest episodes of volcanism exposed on the Marius Hills complex.

Generation, ascent and eruption of magma on the Moon: New insights into source depths, magma supply, intrusions and effusive/explosive eruptions (Part 2: Predicted emplacement processes and observations)

“…McCauley ( variations Heather et al, 2003;Besse et al, 2011;Huang et al, 2011). More recently, Lawrence et al (2013) …”

Morphometric, rheological and compositional analysis of an effusive lunar dome using high resolution remote sensing data sets: A case study from Marius hills region

“…Many earlier researchers studied the compositional variations of Marius Hills volcanic Complex (Weitz and Head, 1999;Heather et al, 2003;Besse et al, 2011;Sunshine et al, 1994;Lawrence et al, 2013). Sunshine et al, 1994 identified two units based on the brightness differences in visible and near infrared ratio images (0.76/0.99 lm, a simplified 1 lm band strength).…”

“…Based on approach of Integrated Band depth analysis of M 3 data. Besse et al (2011), classified Marius hills complex region into two major mare units of different volcanic episodes. Large portion of Marius Hills complex region is covered by high-calcium pyroxene mare unit characterized by weaker IBD1000 compared to other mare unit.…”

“…Heather et al (2003) mapped six main lava flows of the MHC using Clementine multispectral data based on the UV/VIS slope, the strength of 1 lm band and estimated the TiO 2 content. Besse et al (2011) mapped various volcanic features and flow units of Marius Hills complex region using Chandrayaan-1 M 3 data using Integrated Band depth (IBD) images and spectral analysis. Based on approach of Integrated Band depth analysis of M 3 data.…”

Geological characteristics and model ages of Marius Hills on the Moon

“…In the new era of lunar explorations, Japan, China, India, and the United States have successfully launched lunar orbiters and gained numerous high-resolution remote sensing images. Imagery acquired by the Terrain Camera (TC) (10 m/pix) onboard Selene-1 and Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) (0.5 m/pix) onboard Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) have provided the opportunity to study the morphology of Marius Hills in detail (Lawrence et al, 2010); Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M 3 ) onboard Chandrayyan-1 gained both high spatial and high spectral resolution imaging spectrometer data and is very useful for the compositional analysis of the plateau (Besse et al, 2011).…”