Geologic History of the Amundsen Crater Region Near the Lunar South Pole: Basis for Future Exploration

IF 3.8 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Lukas Wueller, Wajiha Iqbal, Thomas Frueh, Carolyn H. van der Bogert and Harald Hiesinger
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Abstract

We provide the first detailed 1:100,000 scale geomorphologic map of the ∼100 km Amundsen crater region, which is of high scientific relevance for future exploration, e.g., NASA’s VIPER mission, the Artemis program, and the Chinese International Lunar Research Station. We investigated the complex geological history of the region before and after the formation of Amundsen crater on the rims of the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) and Amundsen–Ganswindt basins. We present a new Amundsen crater formation age of ∼4.04 Ga, which, in contrast to previously derived ages, is based on non-light-plains terrain. The estimated maximum excavation depth for Amundsen crater is ∼8 km, and elevated concentrations of FeO near the crater suggest that Amundsen may have redistributed SPA-derived materials. Plains materials of various kinds were observed both inside and outside Amundsen crater and are estimated to be up to 350 m thick and ∼3.8 Ga old. A less cratered, tens of meters thick mantling unit indicates a resurfacing event ∼3.7 Ga ago. We highlight five potential exploration sites that satisfy technical constraints (such as shallow slopes, solar illumination, and Earth visibility), provide materials that can be sampled, and are capable of addressing multiple science objectives. Due to its accessibility and traversability, combined with its geologic diversity, proximity of permanently shadowed regions for studying volatile processes, and ability to address multiple science objectives, we confirm and reinforce the Amundsen crater region as a high-priority landing and exploration site.
月球南极附近阿蒙森环形山区域的地质历史:未来探索的基础
我们提供了第一张1:100,000比例尺的阿蒙森陨石坑区域详细地貌图,该区域对未来的探索(如美国国家航空航天局的VIPER任务、阿特米斯计划和中国国际月球研究站)具有重要的科学意义。我们研究了南极-艾特肯盆地(SPA)和阿蒙森-甘斯文特盆地边缘阿蒙森环形山形成前后该地区复杂的地质历史。我们提出了一个新的阿蒙森陨石坑形成年龄,即4.04Ga∼4.04Ga,与之前推算的年龄不同,这个年龄是基于非光原地形推算出来的。据估计,阿蒙森陨石坑的最大挖掘深度为8千米,陨石坑附近高浓度的氧化铁表明,阿蒙森陨石坑可能重新分布了SPA衍生物质。在阿蒙森陨石坑内外都观察到了不同种类的平原物质,据估计厚度可达350米,年龄在3.8千兆年前。一个火山口较少、几十米厚的地幔单元表明,在距今3.7亿年前曾发生过一次地幔重现事件。我们重点介绍了五个潜在的勘探地点,这些地点满足技术上的限制(如浅斜坡、太阳光照和地球能见度),提供可采样的材料,并能实现多个科学目标。由于阿蒙森陨石坑地区交通便利、易于穿越,再加上其地质多样性、临近用于研究挥发过程的永久阴影区以及能够实现多种科学目标,我们确认并加强了该地区作为一个高度优先的着陆和勘探地点的地位。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
The Planetary Science Journal
The Planetary Science Journal Earth and Planetary Sciences-Geophysics
CiteScore
5.20
自引率
0.00%
发文量
249
审稿时长
15 weeks
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