Complex Volcanism at Oppenheimer U Floor-Fractured Crater

• Main Authors: Bennett, K., Lawrence, S., Gustafson, J. O., McBride, Marie, Giguere, T., Horgan, B., Stopar, J., Gaddis, L. R.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Lunar and Planetary Science and Exploration; Aitken; South Pole; South pole
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20170001961

Recent remote sensing studies have identified complex volcanism in the floor-fractured crater (FFC) Oppenheimer U, located in the northwest floor of Oppenheimer crater (35.2degS, 166.3degW, 208 km dia., Figure 1) within the "South Pole - Aitken basin" (SPA) region of the lunar far side. Up to 15 sites of pyroclastic volcanism have been identified in the floor of Oppenheimer crater. Studies of Moon Mineralogy Mapper data (M3, 0.4-3 microns, 86 bands, [5]) indicated that the pyroclastic deposits are comprised of mixtures of clinopyroxene and iron-rich glass, with the Oppenheimer U deposit showing variable composition within the FFC and having the most iron-rich volcanic glass thus far identified on the Moon. Here we examine the floor of Oppenheimer U in more detail and show evidence for possible multiple eruptive vents.