Correlated compositional and mineralogical investigations at the Chang′e-3 landing site

Zongcheng Ling (), Bradley L. Jolliff, Alian Wang, Chunlai Li, Jianzhong Liu, Jiang Zhang, Bo Li, Lingzhi Sun, Jian Chen, Long Xiao, Jianjun Liu, Xin Ren, Wenxi Peng, Huanyu Wang, Xingzhu Cui, Zhiping He and Jianyu Wang
Additional contact information
Zongcheng Ling: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University
Bradley L. Jolliff: Washington University
Alian Wang: Washington University
Chunlai Li: Key Laboratory of Lunar and Deep Space Exploration, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jianzhong Liu: Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jiang Zhang: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University
Bo Li: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University
Lingzhi Sun: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University
Jian Chen: Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University
Long Xiao: Planetary Science Institute, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences
Jianjun Liu: Key Laboratory of Lunar and Deep Space Exploration, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xin Ren: Key Laboratory of Lunar and Deep Space Exploration, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wenxi Peng: Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Huanyu Wang: Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xingzhu Cui: Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhiping He: Key Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science
Jianyu Wang: Key Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The chemical compositions of relatively young mare lava flows have implications for the late volcanism on the Moon. Here we report the composition of soil along the rim of a 450-m diameter fresh crater at the Chang′e-3 (CE-3) landing site, investigated by the Yutu rover with in situ APXS (Active Particle-induced X-ray Spectrometer) and VNIS (Visible and Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer) measurements. Results indicate that this region's composition differs from other mare sample-return sites and is a new type of mare basalt not previously sampled, but consistent with remote sensing. The CE-3 regolith derived from olivine-normative basaltic rocks with high FeO/(FeO+MgO). Deconvolution of the VNIS data indicates abundant high-Ca ferropyroxene (augite and pigeonite) plus Fe-rich olivine. We infer from the regolith composition that the basaltic source rocks formed during late-stage magma-ocean differentiation when dense ferropyroxene-ilmenite cumulates sank and mixed with deeper, relatively ferroan olivine and orthopyroxene in a hybridized mantle source.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9880

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