Possible Mafic Patches at Mons Malapert and Scott Crater Highlight the Value of Site Selection studies

• Main Author: Cooper, B. L.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Lunar and Planetary Science and Exploration; South Pole; South pole
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20070031575

Possible areas of mafic material on the rim and floor of Scott crater (82.1 S, 48.5 E) and on the northeast flank of Mons Malapert (85.5 S, 0 E) are suggested by analysis of shadow-masked Clementine false-colorration images. Mafic materials can produce more oxygen than can highlands materials, and mafic materials close to the south pole may be important for propellant production for a future lunar mission. If the dark patches are confirmed as mafic materials, this finding would suggest that other mafic patches may also exist, perhaps even closer to the poles. These preliminary findings illustrate the need for additional site selection studies in the lunar polar regions, to improve our capability to "live off the land".