Lunar activity from recent gas release

Peter H. Schultz (), Matthew I. Staid and Carlé M. Pieters
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Peter H. Schultz: Brown University
Matthew I. Staid: Planetary Science Institute
Carlé M. Pieters: Brown University

Nature, 2006, vol. 444, issue 7116, 184-186

Abstract: Leaking on the Moon Returned lunar samples have established that widespread lunar volcanism ceased about 3.2 billion years ago and although 'last-gasp' eruptions of thin basalts continued to less than 1.0 billion years ago, the general view is that the Moon is unaffected by internal processes today. Yet the Apollo and Lunar Prospector missions both detected evidence for the release of gas (radon) from the lunar interior. A new analysis of lunar features that appear to have been 'freshened' as recently as several million years ago suggests that the surface freshening may have been caused by a 'dusting-off' due to the sudden escape of gases along deep-seated fractures. Such areas may hold clues for the deep interior and would be good candidate sites for further exploration by upcoming missions.

Date: 2006
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DOI: 10.1038/nature05303

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