A new mascon hypothesis is proposed which accounts for: (1) the existence of lunar mascons for more than 3 b.y., (2) the evidence for extensive volcanic activity from 3.7 to 3.2 b.y. ago, (3) the existence of negative gravity anomaly rings, (4) insufficient mare material in Mare Orientale, and (5) the lack of mascons associated with craters smaller than 200 km diameter. Moreover, it provides a simple mechanism for mass transfer into the basins. The hypothesis is based on the perturbations introduced into a spherically symmetric thermal evolution model of the moon by a giant impact.


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    Title :

    On the formation of the lunar mascons


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    Lunar Science Conference ; 1973 ; Houston, TX


    Publication date :

    1973-01-01


    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :


    Lunar mascons

    Zharkov, V. N. / Trubitsyn, A. P. | NTRS | 1977


    Lunar gravimetry and mascons.

    Muller, P. M. / Sjogren, W. L. | NTRS | 1969


    Mascons - Lunar mass concentrations.

    Muller, P. M. / Sjogren, W. L. | NTRS | 1968


    Mascons and lunar gravity

    Booker, J. R. / Kovach, R. L. / Lu, L. | NTRS | 1970


    Mascons of the Lunar Maria

    M. S. Markov | NTIS | 1970