The global distribution of pure anorthosite on the Moon

Makiko Ohtake (), Tsuneo Matsunaga, Junichi Haruyama, Yasuhiro Yokota, Tomokatsu Morota, Chikatoshi Honda, Yoshiko Ogawa, Masaya Torii, Hideaki Miyamoto, Tomoko Arai, Naru Hirata, Akira Iwasaki, Ryosuke Nakamura, Takahiro Hiroi, Takamitsu Sugihara, Hiroshi Takeda, Hisashi Otake, Carle M. Pieters, Kazuto Saiki, Kohei Kitazato, Masanao Abe, Noriaki Asada, Hirohide Demura, Yasushi Yamaguchi, Sho Sasaki, Shinsuke Kodama, Junya Terazono, Motomaro Shirao, Atsushi Yamaji, Shigeyuki Minami, Hiroaki Akiyama and Jean-Luc Josset
Additional contact information
Makiko Ohtake: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshino-dai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan
Tsuneo Matsunaga: Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
Junichi Haruyama: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshino-dai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan
Yasuhiro Yokota: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshino-dai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan
Tomokatsu Morota: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshino-dai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan
Chikatoshi Honda: The University of Aizu, Ikki-machi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-8580, Japan
Yoshiko Ogawa: The University of Aizu, Ikki-machi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-8580, Japan
Masaya Torii: Fujitsu Ltd., Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba, Chiba 261-8588, Japan
Hideaki Miyamoto: University Museum, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Tomoko Arai: Planetary Exploration Research Center, Chiba Institute of Technology, 2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, Chiba 275-0016, Japan
Naru Hirata: The University of Aizu, Ikki-machi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-8580, Japan
Akira Iwasaki: Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
Ryosuke Nakamura: Information Technology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
Takahiro Hiroi: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
Takamitsu Sugihara: Center for Deep Earth Exploration, Japan Agency for Marine Science and Technology, 3173-25 Showa-machi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0001, Japan
Hiroshi Takeda: Frontier Plasma Research Center, Chiba Institute of Technology, 2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, Chiba 275-0016, Japan
Hisashi Otake: Lunar and Planetary Exploration Program Group, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 2-1-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8505, Japan
Carle M. Pieters: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
Kazuto Saiki: Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
Kohei Kitazato: The University of Aizu, Ikki-machi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-8580, Japan
Masanao Abe: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshino-dai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan
Noriaki Asada: The University of Aizu, Ikki-machi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-8580, Japan
Hirohide Demura: The University of Aizu, Ikki-machi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-8580, Japan
Yasushi Yamaguchi: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, D2-1 (510) Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601 Japan
Sho Sasaki: RISE Project Office, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-12 Hoshigaoka, Mizusawa, Oshu 023-0861, Japan
Shinsuke Kodama: Information Technology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
Junya Terazono: The University of Aizu, Ikki-machi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-8580, Japan
Motomaro Shirao: 1-3-11, Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0035, Japan
Atsushi Yamaji: Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
Shigeyuki Minami: Osaka City University, Sugimoto 3, Sumiyoshi, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
Hiroaki Akiyama: Intercollegiate cooperation strategy, Wakayama University, 930, Sakaedani, Wakayama 640-8510, Japan
Jean-Luc Josset: Space Exploration Institute CP 774

Nature, 2009, vol. 461, issue 7261, 236-240

Abstract: Pure lunar anorthosite Based on analyses of lunar samples of anorthosite, the igneous rock made up mainly of plagioclase feldspar that predominates there, the light-coloured crust of the lunar highlands is thought to have been formed by the crystallization and flotation of plagioclase from a global magma ocean. The exact mechanism by which such a crust formed remains a matter for debate. Spectroscopic data from SELENE, the main orbiter component of the Japanese KAGUYA lunar mission, have now been used to produce a clear and high spatial resolution view of the composition of the lunar crust. The data, from 69 different locations, reveal the widespread existence of virtually pure —100% plagioclase — anorthosite. This contrasts to previous estimates of 82 to 92 vol% plagioclase, providing a valuable constraint on models of lunar magma ocean evolution.

Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08317

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