Lithologies and Chronologic Opportunities of Materials to Be Returned From the Artemis Exploration Zone

Abstract

The Artemis exploration zone is a geologically complex region likely to host some of the oldest and as-yet-unstudied materials on the Moon. We review six potential Artemis landing sites (001, 004, 007, 011, 102, and 105) within candidate Artemis III landing regions ”Connecting Ridge,“ “Peak Near Shackleton,” “Leibnitz Beta Plateau,” “de Gerlache Rim,” and “de Gerlache Rim 2.” Kaguya Spectral Profiler mineral data were used to determine the average lithological composition at each landing site. Potentially accessible geologic materials, their ages and significance, and appropriate application of radiometric chronometers are discussed in reference to return samples from each potential landing site. Chronological analyses of return samples from the Artemis exploration zone will enable the anchoring of the lunar impact flux curve, determine the absolute timing of pivotal events in lunar geologic history, and reveal the geological diversity of the differentiated lunar body.