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Article
An Investigation on the Morphological and Mineralogical Characteristics of Posidonius Floor Fractured Lunar Impact Crater Using Lunar Remote Sensing Data
Remote Sensing
  • Imen Ben Salem, Zayed University
  • Manish Sharma, Zayed University
  • P. R. Kumaresan, Zayed University
  • A. Karthi, Zayed University
  • Fares M. Howari, Zayed University
  • Yousef Nazzal, Zayed University
  • Cijo M. Xavier, Zayed University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2022
Abstract

Lunar floor‐fractured craters (FFCs) are a distinguished type of crater found on the surface of the Moon with radial, concentric, and/or polygonal fractures. In the present study, we selected the Posidonius FCC to explore the mineralogy, morphology and tectonic characteristics using remote sensing datasets. The Posidonius crater is vested with a wide moat of lava separating the crater rim inner wall terraces from the fractured central floor. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s (LRO) images and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data were used to map the tectonics and morphology of the present study. The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) data of Chandrayaan‐1 were used to inves-tigate the mineralogy of the region through specified techniques such as integrated band depth, band composite and spectral characterization. The detailed mineralogical analysis indicates the nor-itic‐rich materials in one massif among four central peak rings and confirm intrusion (mafic pluton). Spectral analysis from the fresh crater of the Posidonius moat mare unit indicates clinopyroxene pigeonite in nature. Integrated studies of the mineralogy, morphology and tectonics revealed that the study region belongs to the Class‐III category of FFCs. The lithospheric loading by adjacent volcanic load (Serenitatis basin) generates a stress state and distribution of the fracture system.

Publisher
MDPI AG
Disciplines
Keywords
  • Floor fractured crater,
  • Lunar,
  • Lunar morphology,
  • Mineralogy,
  • Posidonius impact crater,
  • Spectral analysis
Scopus ID
85124554317
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Indexed in Scopus
Yes
Open Access
Yes
Open Access Type
Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series
Citation Information
Imen Ben Salem, Manish Sharma, P. R. Kumaresan, A. Karthi, et al.. "An Investigation on the Morphological and Mineralogical Characteristics of Posidonius Floor Fractured Lunar Impact Crater Using Lunar Remote Sensing Data" Remote Sensing Vol. 14 Iss. 4 (2022) ISSN: <a href="https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/issn/2072-4292" target="_blank">2072-4292</a>
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/fares-howari/80/