Rock types of South Pole‐Aitken basin

and extent of basaltic volcanism

C. M. Pieters; J. W. Head; L. R. Gaddis et al.

2001

Structured summary

Snapshot

The South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the Moon's farside is

characterized by a pervasive noritic composition, suggesting that
the upper crust has been stripped away, and the excavated material
is dominated by impact melt or breccia.

Key findings
 The study reveals that the SPA basin has a unique composition, with a diverse range of
rock types, including noritic, gabbroic/basaltic, feldspathic, and olivine-gabbroic
lithologies. The basin also shows evidence of extensive volcanism and impact melt
deposits.
 The study finds that anorthositic materials are present in the SPA basin, particularly in
the central region, and are associated with pre-Nectarian craters. The study also
identifies mafic-bearing rock types, including noritic and gabbroic materials, in the
basin.
 The key findings of the study include:
 The SPA region is characterized by diverse rock types, including noritic, gabbroic, and
anorthositic materials.
 Basaltic volcanism has occurred in SPA from pre-Orientale to Late Imbrian periods.

Objectives
The objective of the study is to analyze the composition of the SPA basin using Clementine
UVVIS data, focusing on the distribution of anorthositic and mafic-bearing rock types.

Methods
The study uses data from the Clementine mission, including UVVIS camera images and lidar
altimetry data, to analyze the composition and topography of the SPA basin. The data are
processed using various techniques, including radiometric calibration, photometric
normalization, and subpixel-level coregistration.
The study uses Clementine UVVIS data to analyze the composition of the SPA basin. The
data are processed using a band shape analysis, which involves analyzing the reflectance
spectra of the lunar surface to identify the presence of different minerals.

The study uses Clementine data to analyze the geological features of the South Pole-Aitken
basin (SPA) on the Moon's surface. The methods include:

Analysis of Clementine five-channel reflectance spectra to identify and characterize rock

types.

Examination of the distribution and relationships of different rock types in SPA.

Investigation of the stratigraphic relationships between different geological units in SPA.

The study uses a combination of geological and geophysical data, including:

Geological mapping and analysis of rock types within the SPA basin.

Analysis of Clementine and Lunar Prospector data to identify mafic anomalies.

Geophysical modeling to constrain the location and extent of the SPA basin.

Results
The study reveals a diverse range of rock types in the SPA basin, including noritic,
gabbroic/basaltic, feldspathic, and olivine-gabbroic lithologies. The basin also shows
evidence of extensive volcanism and impact melt deposits.

The study finds that anorthositic materials are present in the SPA basin, particularly in the
central region, and are associated with pre-Nectarian craters. The study also identifies
mafic-bearing rock types, including noritic and gabbroic materials, in the basin.

The results of the study include:

Identification of diverse rock types in SPA, including noritic, gabbroic, and anorthositic
materials.

Characterization of the distribution and relationships of different rock types in SPA.

Evidence of basaltic volcanism and impact events in SPA.

Identification of cryptomare deposits in SPA, modified by mixing of ejecta from the

Orientale Basin event.

The identification of a pervasive noritic composition across the SPA basin.

The suggestion that the upper crust has been stripped away across almost all of the SPA
basin.
The identification of potential sampling sites for future research, including Olivine Hill,
Boseborehole, and Bhabha peaks.

Conclusions
The study concludes that the SPA basin is a unique and complex region on the Moon, with a
diverse range of rock types and evidence of extensive volcanism and impact melt deposits.
The results have implications for our understanding of lunar history and the evolution of
the Moon.

The conclusions of the study are:

The South Pole-Aitken basin (SPA) is a complex region on the Moon's surface, characterized
by diverse rock types and geological features.

Basaltic volcanism has played a significant role in the evolution of SPA.

The study provides new insights into the geological history of SPA and the Moon's early
evolution.

The SPA basin is characterized by a pervasive noritic composition, suggesting that the
upper crust has been stripped away, and the excavated material is dominated by impact
melt or breccia.

The SPA melt sheet has not differentiated as a whole, suggesting that it represents the bulk
composition of the lower crust (perhaps with small amounts of upper mantle).

The study provides a framework for further research and identifies potential sampling sites
for future investigation.

Analysis

Research comparison

Builds on previous work

A valuable trait of this empiricalformulationassociatingopticalparameters with
compositionis thatit is relativelyinsensitiveto manyof the effectsof
spaceweathering[Luceyet al., 2000b]. The approach thus providesa mechanismto map
estimatesof FeO acrossthe Moon in a spatial context.Although it is less appropriatefor
distinguishingamong the high iron maria [Staid and Pieters, 2000] or glass-rich pyroclastic
material [Gaddis et al, 2000; Lucey et al, 1998a], the approachis an excellenttechniqueto
mapbulk propertiesof manylunarsoils.In thediscussionbelow, we usethe most
recentcalibrationfor Clementinedata [Luceyet al., 2000a] to mapregionsassociatedwith SPA
thatappearto be highlyanorthositic(low-iron)Although it is less appropriatefor
distinguishingamong the high iron maria [Staid and Pieters, 2000] or glass-rich
pyroclastic material [Gaddis et al, 2000; Lucey et al, 1998a], the approachis an
excellenttechniqueto mapbulk propertiesof manylunarsoils.In thediscussionbelow,
we usethe most recentcalibrationfor Clementinedata

Abstract
The enormous pre‐Nectarian South Pole‐Aitken (SPA) basin represents a geophysically and
compositionally unique region on the Moon. We present and analyze the mineralogical
diversity across this basin and discuss the implications for basin evolution. Rock types are
derived from Clementine multispectral data based on diagnostic characteristics of ferrous
absorptions in fresh materials. Individual areas are characterized as noritic (dominated by
low‐Ca pyroxene), gabbroic/basaltic (dominated by high‐Ca pyroxene), feldspathic (<3–
6% FeO), and olivine‐gabbro (dominated by high‐Ca pyroxene and olivine). The anorthositic
crust has effectively been removed from the interior of the basin. The style of volcanism
within the basin extends over several 100 Myr and includes mare basalt and pyroclastic
deposits. Several areas of ancient (pre‐Orientale) volcanism, or cryptomaria, have also been
identified. The nonmare mafic lithology that occurs across the basin is shown to be noritic
in composition and is pervasive laterally and vertically. We interpret this to represent
impact melt/breccia deposits derived from the lower crust. A few localized areas are
identified within the basin that contain more diverse lithologies (gabbro, olivine‐gabbro),
some of which may represent material from the deepest part of the lower crust and perhaps
uppermost mantle involved in the SPA event.

Bibliography
1. Pieters, C. M., Head, J. W., Gaddis, L. R., Jolliff, B. L., & Duke, M. B.. (2001). Rock types of
South Pole‐Aitken basin and extent of basaltic volcanism. Journal of Geophysical
Research Atmospheres, 106. https://doi.org/10.1029/2000je001414