Mapping Iron Distribution in the Lunar Crust, Part 1: Establishing the Relationship Between Chemical and Mineralogical Iron Abundances and Albedo

Maps of lunar iron abundance determined from Apollo gamma-ray data and from Clementine spectral reflectance (CSR) data both show a bimodal iron distribution but also show discrepancies in modal averages and regional variations of iron. The relationship between these data sets as well as albedo variations, which affect spectral reflectance measurements, are examined globally on a pixel-by-pixel basis to produce a properly calibrated lunar iron map. Tables are presented which illustrate that a clear inverse relationship exists between albedo and variations in the CSR-derived iron: where albedo is high, the CSR values are lower, and vice versa.