Compositional Variations in the Vicinity of the Lunar Crust-Mantle Interface From Moon Mineralogy Mapper Data.

Area of Science:

• Lunar geology
• Planetary science
• Mineralogy

Background:

• The Moon's crust-mantle interface is poorly understood.
• Impact craters offer windows into the lunar subsurface.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the mineralogy of lunar impact crater central peaks and peak rings.
• Characterize the lunar crust-mantle interface and its heterogeneity.
• Assess the depth of origin for materials within these structures.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) spectroscopic data.
• Calculated crater central peak/ring depths using empirical equations.
• Compared depths with Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) crustal thickness models.

Main Results:

• Plagioclase is widespread; Low-Calcium Pyroxene found in central peaks.
• Olivine detections are scarce, found both above and below the crust-mantle interface.
• Pyroxene composition evolves with depth, suggesting crust-to-mantle transition.
• High-Calcium Pyroxene correlates with maria, indicating deep lateral heterogeneities.

Conclusions:

• Lunar crustal and mantle materials exhibit distinct mineralogical signatures.
• Impact craters provide crucial insights into deep lunar structure.
• Evidence suggests significant lateral variations exist at the crust-mantle boundary.