Estimation of lunar FeO abundance based on imaging by LRO Diviner

Abstract

Understanding the abundance and distribution characteristics of Fe O on the surface of the Moon is important for investigating its evolution. The current high resolution maps of the global Fe O abundance are mostly produced with visible and near infrared reflectance spectra. The Christiansen Feature(CF) in mid-infrared has strong sensitivity to lunar minerals and correlates to major elements composing minerals.This paper investigates the possibility of mapping global Fe O abundance using the CF values from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter(LRO) mission. A high correlation between the CF values and Fe O abundances from the Apollo samples was found. Based on this high correlation, a new global map(±60?) of Fe O was produced using the CF map. The results show that the global Fe O average is 8.2 wt.%, the highland average is 4.7 wt.%, the global modal abundance is 5.4 wt.% and the lunar mare mode is 15.7 wt.%. These results are close to those derived from data provided by Clementine, the Lunar Prospector Gamma Ray Spectrometer(LP-GRS) and the Chang’e-1Interference Imaging Spectrometer(IIM), demonstrating the feasibility of estimating Fe O abundance based on the Diviner CF data. The near global Fe O abundance map shows an enrichment of lunar major elements.