Potential sample sites for South Pole–Aitken basin impact melt within the Schrödinger basin

Hurwitz, D. M.; Kring, D. A.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2015.06.055

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Schrödinger basin is a complex impact structure centred at 75°S, 132.5°E—near the southwestern rim of the Moon's oldest and largest impact basin, South Pole-Aitken (SPA), where a few kilometres of SPA ejecta3, dominated by a mantle component456, covered farside crust. Schrödinger is believed to be an early Imbrian-aged impact feature (that is, ca .…”

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Peak-ring structure and kinematics from a multi-disciplinary study of the Schrödinger impact basin

et al. 2016

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The Schrödinger basin on the lunar farside is ∼320 km in diameter and the best-preserved peak-ring basin of its size in the Earth–Moon system. Here we present spectral and photogeologic analyses of data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument on the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) on the LRO spacecraft, which indicates the peak ring is composed of anorthositic, noritic and troctolitic lithologies that were juxtaposed by several cross-cutting faults during peak-ring formation. Hydrocode simulations indicate the lithologies were uplifted from depths up to 30 km, representing the crust of the lunar farside. Through combining geological and remote-sensing observations with numerical modelling, we show that a Displaced Structural Uplift model is best for peak rings, including that in the K–T Chicxulub impact crater on Earth. These results may help guide sample selection in lunar sample return missions that are being studied for the multi-agency International Space Exploration Coordination Group.

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Peak-ring structure and kinematics from a multi-disciplinary study of the Schrödinger impact basin

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“…1, 2). Hurwitz and Kring (2015) showed that the 251 southern basin wall of Schrödinger basin is a promising target for sampling SPA-derived material. In 252 conjunction with samples of Schrödinger impact melt sheet, samples of SPA-derived material can be 253 used to anchor the early Earth-Moon impact flux and basin forming epoch, addressing the top two 254 science objectives (NRC, 2007).…”

Section: Sampling Key Units Within Schrödinger Basin 247mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent study of Hurwitz and Kring (2015) suggest the FeO-rich 446 signature that is thought to represent an SPA impact melt component in Schrödinger wall outcrops and 447 floor material extends from the eastern to the south-eastern wall of Schrödinger basin, with estimates 448 up to 6-8% of SPA material. Compositional M 3 spectra of low-Ca pyroxene in the southern basin wall has 449 been interpreted to indicate the material has a noritic composition (Kramer et al, 2013).…”

Section: Goal 1) 433mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Close to the final landing site, there will be an opportunity to sample material from the southern 444 wall (lw) (stations L45, L46, L47 as suggested by Hurwitz and Kring (2015), or alternatively, stations L43, 445 L44, L46 and L48 based on this study). A recent study of Hurwitz and Kring (2015) suggest the FeO-rich 446 signature that is thought to represent an SPA impact melt component in Schrödinger wall outcrops and 447 floor material extends from the eastern to the south-eastern wall of Schrödinger basin, with estimates 448 up to 6-8% of SPA material.…”

Section: Goal 1) 433mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8, 9). It measures ~291 km in length and includes 66 stations 410 (including the stations near the southern basin wall proposed by Hurwitz and Kring, 2015). Samples 411 would be collected at 16 of these stations.…”

Section: Long Traverse 408mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analyses of robotic traverses and sample sites in the Schrödinger basin for the HERACLES human-assisted sample return mission concept

Steenstra¹,

Martín

McDonald

et al. 2016

Advances in Space Research

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20 21Near-future exploration of the Moon will likely be conducted with human-operated robotic assets. 22Previous studies have identified the Schrödinger basin, situated on the far side of the Moon, as a prime 23 target for lunar science and exploration where a significant number of the scientific concepts reviewed 24 by the National Research Council (NRC, 2007) can be addressed. In this study, two robotic mission 25 traverses within Schrödinger basin are proposed based on a 3 year mission plan in support of the 26 HERACLES human-assisted sample return mission concept. A comprehensive set of modern remote 27 sensing data (LROC imagery, LOLA topography, M 3 and Clementine spectral data) has been 28 integrated to provide high-resolution coverage of the traverses and to facilitate identification of 29 specific sample localities. We also present a preliminary Concept of Operations (ConOps) study based on 30 a set of notional rover capabilities and instrumental payload. An extended robotic mission to 31 Schrödinger basin will allow for significant sample return opportunities from multiple distinct geologic 32 terrains and will address multiple high-priority NRC (2007) scientific objectives. Both traverses will offer 33 the first opportunity to (i) sample pyroclastic material from the lunar farside, (ii) sample Schrödinger 34 impact melt and test the lunar cataclysm hypothesis, (iii) sample deep crustal lithologies in an uplifted 35 peak ring and test the lunar magma ocean hypothesis and (iv) explore the top of an impact melt sheet, 36 enhancing our ability to interpret Apollo samples. The shorter traverse will provide the first opportunity 37 to sample farside mare deposits, whereas the longer traverse has significant potential to collect SPA 38 impact melt, which can be used to constrain the basin-forming epoch. 39 40

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Recent shallow moonquake and impact-triggered boulder falls on the Moon: New insights from the Schrödinger basin

Kumar

Sruthi

Krishna

et al. 2016

J. Geophys. Res. Planets

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Shallow moonquakes are thought to be of tectonic origin. However, the geologic structures responsible for these moonquakes are unknown. Here we report sites where moonquakes possibly occurred along young lobate scarps in the Schrödinger basin. Our analysis of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Chandrayaan‐1 images revealed four lobate scarps in different parts of the Schrödinger basin. The scarps crosscut small fresh impact craters (<10–30 m) suggesting a young age for the scarps. A 28 km long scarp (Scarp 1) yields a minimum age of 11 Ma based on buffered crater counting, while others are 35–82 Ma old. The topography of Scarp 1 suggests a range of horizontal shortening (10–30 m) across the fault. Two scarps are associated with boulder falls in which several boulders rolled and bounced on nearby slopes. A cluster of a large number of boulder falls near Scarp 1 indicates that the scarp was seismically active recently. A low runout efficiency of the boulders (~2.5) indicates low to moderate levels of ground shaking, which we interpret to be related to low‐magnitude moonquakes in the scarp. Boulder falls are also observed in other parts of the basin, where we mapped >1500 boulders associated with trails and bouncing marks. Their origins are largely controlled by recent impact events. Ejecta rays and secondary crater chains from a 14 km diameter impact crater traversed Schrödinger and triggered significant boulder falls about 17 Ma. Therefore, a combination of recent shallow moonquakes and impact events triggered the boulder falls in the Schrödinger basin.

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Potential sample sites for South Pole–Aitken basin impact melt within the Schrödinger basin

Cited by 16 publications

References 33 publications

Peak-ring structure and kinematics from a multi-disciplinary study of the Schrödinger impact basin

Peak-ring structure and kinematics from a multi-disciplinary study of the Schrödinger impact basin

Analyses of robotic traverses and sample sites in the Schrödinger basin for the HERACLES human-assisted sample return mission concept

Recent shallow moonquake and impact-triggered boulder falls on the Moon: New insights from the Schrödinger basin

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