Geologic Mapping and Age Determinations of Tsiolkovskiy Crater

Gloria Tognon,Sabrina Ferrari,Matteo Massironi,Riccardo Pozzobon

doi:10.3390/rs13183619

Gloria Tognon, Sabrina Ferrari + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13183619

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Abstract

Tsiolkovskiy is a ~200 km diameter crater presenting one of the few mare deposits of the lunar far side. In this work, we perform a geological study of the crater by means of morpho-stratigraphic and color-based spectral mappings, and a detailed crater counting age determination. The work aims at characterizing the surface morphology and compositional variation observed from orbital data including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Wide Angle Camera and Clementine UVVIS Warped Color Ratio mosaics, and attempts a reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the Tsiolkovskiy crater through both relative and absolute model age determinations. The results show a clear correlation between the geologic and spectral units and an asymmetric distribution of these units reflecting the oblique impact origin of the crater. Crater counts performed using the spectral units identified on the smooth crater floor returned distinct age ranges, suggesting the occurrence of at least three different igneous events, generating units characterized by particular compositions and/or degree of maturity. This work demonstrates the scientific value of Tsiolkovskiy crater for a better understanding of the volcanic evolution of the Moon and, in particular, of its far side.

Highlights

Among the main scientific goals and priorities for lunar exploration is an understanding of the thermal and compositional evolution of the Moon [1]
We focused our attention on a mare flooded crater located on the lunar far side: the Tsiolkovskiy crater
The Tsiolkovskiy crater could help to answer the still open questions related to the sparse distribution of far side volcanic maria, the control exerted by the lunar crust and mantle on magma genesis and transport, as well as the vertical and lateral variability of the thickness and bulk composition of the lunar maria, crust, and mantle

Summary

Introduction

Among the main scientific goals and priorities for lunar exploration is an understanding of the thermal and compositional evolution of the Moon [1]. It is necessary to collect samples of basalts from the less explored lunar far side, to investigate the subsurface with active subsurface sounding techniques, and to deploy a geophysical network for profiling the Moon’s internal structure [1]. We focused our attention on a mare flooded crater located on the lunar far side: the Tsiolkovskiy crater. This crater presents a pristine and smooth resurfaced floor that allows us to obtain a perspective on the evolution of lunar magmatism on the far side. The Tsiolkovskiy crater could help to answer the still open questions related to the sparse distribution of far side volcanic maria, the control exerted by the lunar crust and mantle on magma genesis and transport, as well as the vertical and lateral variability of the thickness and bulk composition of the lunar maria, crust, and mantle

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