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Title:
Megaregolith thickness, heat flow, and the bulk composition of the moon
Authors:
Rasmussen, K. L.; Warren, P. H.
Affiliation:
AA(California, University, Los Angeles, CA; Copenhagen, University, Copenhagen, Denmark), AB(California, University, Los Angeles, CA)
Publication:
Nature (ISSN 0028-0836), vol. 313, Jan. 10, 1985, p. 121-124. Research supported by the Statens Naturvidenskabelige Forskningsrad. Previously announced in STAR as N85-13723. (Nature Homepage)
Publication Date:
01/1985
Category:
Lunar and Planetary Exploration; Moon
Origin:
STI
NASA/STI Keywords:
Heat Transmission, Lunar Composition, Lunar Evolution, Lunar Rocks, Regolith, Thermal Conductivity, Bedrock, Iron, Nickel, Thickness, Uranium
LPI Keywords:
MOON, MEGAREGOLITH, THICKNESS, PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, HEAT FLOW, ORIGIN, COMPOSTION, EVOLUTION, FORMATION, DENSITY, DEPLETION, METALS, MODELS, VOLATILES, TRACE ELEMENTS, GEOCHEMISTRY, COMPARISONS, FRACTIONATION, REFRACTORY ELEMENTS, URANIUM, ABUNDANCE, LITHOPHILES, HYPOTHESES
DOI:
10.1038/313121a0
Bibliographic Code:
1985Natur.313..121R

Abstract

Models developed to assess the effects of megaregolith on lunar thermal evolution are discussed. It is confirmed that the two sites where lunar heat flow was measured are probably unrepresentative, with heat flows about 25 percent higher than regional averages, due to focussing of heat flow towards regions with thin megaregolith. Numerous lines of evidence indicate that the megaregolith is generally 2 to 3 km thick under highlands (which cover about 83 percent of the total lunar surface), and 1 km thick under maria. In most models, megaregolith thickness is assumed to be roughly 6x greater over highlands than over maria. Based on sparse data for porosity among lunar rock types, and the correlation between thermal conductivity and porosity, it is assumed that megaregolith conductivity is roughly 20 kiloerg s(-1)cm(-1)K(-1), and bedrock conductivity is roughly 7x greater. It is also found that insulation by megaregolith exacerbates the problem of reconciling modest temperatures inferred for the (present) mantle with a high rate of heat production; an upper limit of 30 ng/g for the bulk-Moon U content can be derived from this constraint alone.
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