Geology of Multi-Ring Impact Basins: The Moon and Other Planets [Minkštas viršelis]

Preface		xi
1 The multi-ring basin problem		1	(17)
1.1 Multi-ring basins and their significance		1	(2)
1.2 Overview of the lunar multi-ring basin controversy		3	(9)
1.2.1 Recognition of multi-ring basins		3	(2)
1.2.2 The problem of the original crater of excavation		5	(3)
1.2.3 The origin of basin rings		8	(2)
1.2.4 Basin ejecta and deposit emplacement		10	(2)
1.3 The approach of this book		12	(6)
1.3.1 Photogeologic evidence		13	(1)
1.3.2 Geology and petrology of Apollo and Luna landing sites		13	(1)
1.3.3 Remote sensing of the chemistry and mineralogy of basin ejecta		14	(2)
1.3.4 Geophysical data		16	(1)
1.3.5 Synthesis		17	(1)
2 From crater to basin		18	(24)
2.1 The cratering process		18	(11)
2.1.1 Impact mechanics		18	(5)
2.1.2 Impact craters: the terrestrial example		23	(6)
2.2 The morphology of fresh lunar craters		29	(6)
2.3 Size-dependent morphologic thresholds: crater to basin		35	(2)
2.4 Inventory of lunar multi-ring basins		37	(5)
3 The 'archetype' basin: Orientale		42	(25)
3.1 Regional geology of the Orientale impact site		42	(3)
3.2 Orientale morphology and geological units		45	(7)
3.2.1 Basin interior units		45	(5)
3.2.2 Basin exterior units		50	(2)
3.3 Rings and basin structures		52	(5)
3.4 Remote sensing of Orientale basin deposits		57	(5)
3.5 Orientale ejecta at Apollo landing sites?		62	(1)
3.6 The formation and evolution of the Orientale basin		63	(4)
4 An ancient basin: Nectaris		67	(22)
4.1 Regional geology and setting		67	(2)
4.2 Nectaris morphology and geological units		69	(8)
4.3 Remote sensing observations of Nectaris basin deposits		77	(5)
4.4 Apollo 16 site petrology - the Nectaris component		82	(4)
4.5 The formation and evolution of the Nectaris Basin		86	(3)
5 A modified basin: Crisium		89	(20)
5.1 Regional geological setting		89	(1)
5.2 Crisium morphology and geological units		90	(5)
5.3 Structural geology and rings of the Crisium basin		95	(6)
5.4 Composition of Crisium basin deposits		101	(2)
5.5 Crisium ejecta: petrology of the Luna 20 site		103	(3)
5.6 The formation and evolution of the Crisium basin		106	(3)
6 A transitional basin: Serenitatis		109	(22)
6.1 Regional geological setting and basin definition		109	(3)
6.2 Serenitatis morphology and geological units		112	(5)
6.3 Serenitatis basin rings and structure		117	(1)
6.4 Orbital geochemical data for Serenitatis basin deposits		118	(3)
6.5 Apollo 17 site geology - the Serenitatis basin "melt sheet"		121	(7)
6.6 The formation and evolution of the Serenitatis basin		128	(3)
7 The largest basin: Imbrium		131	(34)
7.1 Regional geology and setting		131	(3)
7.2 Imbrium morphology and geological units		134	(9)
7.3 Imbrium rings and basin structures		143	(3)
7.4 Remote-sensing data: the composition of Imbrium ejecta		146	(5)
7.5 The Fra Mauro Formation: petrology of the Apollo 14 site		151	(2)
7.6 The Apennine Mountains: petrology of the Apollo 15 site		153	(8)
7.7 Petrology of the Apollo 16 site - Imbrium basin ejecta?		161	(1)
7.8 The formation and evolution of the Imbrium basin		161	(4)
8 Geological processes in the formation of lunar basins		165	(26)
8.1 Composition and structure of the lunar crust		165	(2)
8.2 Excavation		167	(5)
8.3 Impact melt and ejecta		172	(8)
8.4 Ring formation		180	(8)
8.5 Long-term modification of basin topography		188	(3)
9 Multi-ring basins on the terrestrial planets		191	(33)
9.1 Earth		191	(3)
9.2 Mercury		194	(10)
9.2.1 Ancient mercurian basins		197	(3)
9.2.2 The Caloris basin		200	(4)
9.3 Mars		204	(10)
9.3.1 Ancient martian basins		209	(3)
9.3.2 Argyre and Hellas basins		212	(1)
9.3.3 Polar basins and the hemispheric dichotomy		213	(1)
9.4 Icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn		214	(5)
9.4.1 Ganymede and Callisto		214	(3)
9.4.2 Saturnian satellites		217	(2)
9.5 Venus		219	(5)
10 Multi-ring basins and planetary evolution		224	(8)
10.1 The building blocks of planetary surfaces		224	(1)
10.2 Effects of basins on planetary evolution		225	(6)
10.2.1 The Moon		225	(2)
10.2.2 Mercury		227	(1)
10.2.3 Mars		228	(1)
10.2.4 Icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn		229	(1)
10.2.5 Earth		229	(2)
10.3 Conclusion		231	(1)
References		232	(23)
Index		255

Paul D. Spudis is a Senior Staff Scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas. His research is on the deposits and environment of the poles of the Moon with the aim of understanding their potential as sites for future exploration and use. He was educated at Arizona State University (BS, 1976; PhD, 1982) and Brown University (ScM, 1977). He was deputy leader of the Science Team for the DoD-NASA Clementine mission in 1994, the Principal Investigator of the Mini-SAR radar imaging experiment on the Indian Chandrayaan-1 mission to the Moon in 2009, and a team member of the Mini-RF imaging radar experiment aboard NASA's current Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. He has served on two White House study groups, including the Presidential Commission on the Implementation of US Space Exploration Policy in 2004. He has been awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Theodore von Karman medal from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Space Pioneer award of the National Space Society. He is the author of more than 100 scientific papers, five books, and numerous articles for the popular press.