Impact Melt Cover on Lunar Impact Crater Central Peaks: Implications for Determining Mineralogical Variations in the Crust

The unambiguous detection of impact melt cover on the central peaks of several lunar impact craters is changing our perspective of central peaks as pristine exposures of the deep crust.

We are carrying out a global survey of central peaks aimed at understanding the extent and type of impact melt cover along with its mineralogy vis-a-vis the character of melt-free regions on the peak. This characterization is enabling distinction between primary (pristine, subsurface exposures) and secondary (impact melt) components on the central peaks which is critical for deciphering the mineralogical character of the crustal column.

The first results from this global survey would be presented highlighting the wide variation in the impact melt cover across central peaks and complexity in the mineralogical character of impact melt vis-a-vis melt-free regions.