FeO and TiO2 Maps of the Lunar Polar Regions Derived From the Clementine Data

Abstract

Chang’E-6 successfully completed the return of samples from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the Moon, and future Chang’E-7 and Artemis missions will continue to focus on the lunar south polar region. FeO and TiO₂ are the primary chemical components of the lunar surface, and determining their contents in the south polar region is essential for investigating the geology and volcanism of this region. This work remapped the global FeO and TiO₂ content using Clementine data combined with updated lunar sample measurements. The new models for FeO and TiO₂ achieve determination coefficients (R²) of 0.921 and 0.817, and root mean square errors (RMSE) of 1.38 wt.% and 1.17 wt.%, respectively. The addition of sample measurements from Chang’E-3 and Chang’E-5 has resulted in higher estimates for FeO content in the Procellarum KREEP Terrane (PKT) and the SPA, as well as lower estimates for TiO₂ content in the maria. Furthermore, we present the Chang’E-6 landing zone in the PKT to illustrate the geological implications of the new oxide content maps. Estimates of surface FeO and TiO₂ content at the Chang’E-6 sampling site are close to recent sample measurements and are consistent with the characteristics of the young maria unit in the landing zone. Our results provide valuable information on FeO and TiO₂ content in the lunar south polar region, which will aid in the future analysis of Chang’E-6 samples and contribute to geological investigations in the region.