[P-PS09] Lunar Science and Exploration

[PPS09-16] Stratigraphic relationships of ilmenite-rich and glass-rich materials in pyroclastic deposit areas on the lunar surface

*Satoru Yamamoto¹, Moe Matsuoka¹, Hiroshi Nagaoka², Makiko Ohtake³ (1.Geological Survey of Japan, Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 2.Ritsumeikan University, 3.University of Aizu)

Keywords:Moon, ilmenite, lunar resource exploration, remote sensing

Since ilmenite is expected to be an oxygen source and lunar resource minerals for the construction of a future manned base on the Moon, information on the global distribution of ilmenite-rich areas on the lunar surface would be important from the perspective of lunar resource exploration strategies. We have conducted a spectral identification study focusing on 1 µm and 2 µm reflectance spectral characteristics of ilmenite-rich materials using hyperspectral data, and have shown that ilmenite-rich sites are concentrated in Dark Mantle Deposits (DMDs) covered by lunar pyroclastic deposits. On the other hand, Apollo samples returned from DMDs are known to be rich in glass material. Therefore, a study on stratigraphic relationships between ilmenite-rich and glass-rich materials in DMDs is important to constrain the condition and origin of ilmenite-rich materials. In this presentation, we will report on the spectral and stratigraphic characteristics of ilmenite-rich and glass-rich materials in DMDs, using data from the Spectral Profiler, Multiband Imager, and Terrain Camera onboard KAGUYA/SELENE.