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Lawrence et al. 2003
Lawrence, D.J., Elphic, R.C., Feldman, W.C., Prettyman, T.H., Gasnault, O. and Maurice, S. (2003). Small-area thorium features on the lunar surface. Journal of Geophysical Research 108: doi: 10.1029/2003JE002050. issn: 0148-0227.

Using an improved understanding of the Lunar Prospector Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (LP-GRS) spatial footprint, we have derived a new map of global thorium abundances on the lunar surface. This map has a full-width, half-maximum spatial resolution of ~(80 km)2 and is mapped on the lunar surface using 0.5¿ ¿ 0.5¿ pixels. This map has allowed the identification and classification of 42 small-area (3 ¿g/g) in southwestern Mare Tranquillitatis, near the Apollo 11 landing site. With our better understanding of the LP-GRS spatial footprint, we have been able to constrain the surface thorium abundance at the Compton/Belkovich thorium anomaly to 40--55 ¿g/g, which is higher than any other measured location on the lunar surface and higher than most samples. Finally, using 1 km/pixel FeO abundances from Clementine and LP-GRS spatial footprint information, we have been able to obtain plausible thorium distributions around Kepler crater at a resolution of 1 km/pixel. The materials around Kepler crater appear to be a relatively simple mixing of thorium-rich MIB compositions and high-thorium mare basalts.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Planetology, Solar System Objects, Moon, Planetary Sciences, Composition, Planetary Sciences, Remote sensing
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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