Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
2.4.1
Mare Orientale
The averaged low-, medium-, and high-Ti basaltic spectra have been derived
from the RELAB mare soil spectra. The bulk chemistry and modal abundance
of the minerals have been listed in Table
2.1
and
2.2
, respectively. Based on
the RELAB basaltic spectra, the concentration of the different types of basalts
is mapped in the Mare Orientale, Lacus Autumni, and Lacus Veris basaltic
regions. The south central part of the Mare Orientale is comprised of high-
Ti basalts ranges around 21 % and medium-Ti basalts dominant in 40 %, and
in few craters it leads upto 60 % and low-Ti basalts ranges around 6 %. The
comparative analysis of the different types of basalts is given in Table
2.3
.
The concentration of the high-Ti basalts and medium-Ti basalts is shown in
Fig.
2.6a, b
.
Compared with the Lacus Autumni and Veris, the south central part of the
Orientale basalts bears high-Ti basalts, which ranges up to 15 %. Hence, based on
the TiO
2
concentration, the Lacus Autumni and Veris might be of the same origin
and similar ages.
In the south central part of the Mare Orientale basaltic region, the soil consists
of <20 % of plagioclase. Some impact craters located in the inner side of the
Tabl e 2. 3
The observed Modal abundance of minerals for Mare Orientale, Lacus Autumni and
Lacus Veries from M
3
data
Modal abundance of
minerals and
Ti-basalts (values are
in wt %)
Mare
Orientale
Lacus Autumni
Lacus Veris
Plagioclase
20
21
12
Pyroxene (CPX
C
OPX)
21
32
21
Olivine
4
4
2.5
Ilmenite
-
-
-
Agglutinitic glass
-
-
-
Volcanic glass
-
-
-
Others
-
-
-
Basalts
High-Ti basalts
21
10
40
Medium-Ti-basalts
60
-
-
Low-Ti basalts
6
21
>60
Modal abundance of minerals (wt %)
Mare Orientale
Lacus Autumni
Lacus Veries
Ilmenite
-
-
-
Plagioclase
20
21
12
Pyroxene
21
32
21
Olivine
4
4
2.5
Agglutinitic glass
-
-
-
Volcanic glass
-
-
-
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