The compositional distribution and rock types of the Aristarchus region on the Moon

Abstract

The Aristarchus region is the brightest part for the lunar nearside. It includes diverse material types, such as the largest amount of volcanic pyroclastic deposits, very young impact ejecta from the Aristarchus crater and mare basalts surrounding the Aristarchus plateau. This region also experienced complex geologic processes including volcanic, impact and tectonic activities. In this study, we combine the ChangE-1 IIM, Lunar Prospector and Clementine UVVIS datasets to investigate the elemental distribution, mineral properties and rock types in this region. The Aristarchus region has the most variable materials including volcanic pyroclastic deposits, mare basalts, highland anorthosite, KREEP and some rare evolved rock types, which makes it one of the most scientific valuable regions for the future lunar missions (e.g., the third phase of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program).