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  • Zhang_et_al-2017-Geophysical_Research_Letters

    Rights statement: ©2017. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Zhang, F., Head, J. W., Basilevsky, A. T., Bugiolacchi, R., Komatsu, G., Wilson, L., … Zhu, M.‐H. (2017). Newly discovered ring‐moat dome structures in the lunar maria: Possible origins and implications. Geophysical Research Letters, 44, 9216–9224. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074416

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Newly-discovered ring-moat dome structures in the lunar maria: possible origins and implications

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • Feng Zhang
  • James Head
  • Alexander Basilevsky
  • Roberto Bugiolacchi
  • Goro Komatsu
  • Lionel Wilson
  • Wenze Fa
  • Meng-Hua Zhu
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>28/09/2017
<mark>Journal</mark>Geophysical Research Letters
Issue number18
Volume44
Number of pages9
Pages (from-to)9216-9224
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date13/09/17
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

We report on a newly discovered morphological feature on the lunar surface, here named Ring-Moat Dome Structure (RMDS). These low domes (a few meters to ~20 m height with slopes <5°) are typically surrounded by narrow annular depressions or moats. We mapped about 2,600 RMDSs in the lunar maria with diameters ranging from tens to hundreds of meters. Four candidate hypotheses for their origin involving volcanism are considered. We currently favor a mechanism for the formation of the RMDS related to modification of the initial lava flows through inflated flow squeeze-ups and/or extrusion of magmatic foams below a cooling lava flow surface. These newly discovered features provide new insights into the nature of emplacement of lunar lava flows, suggesting that in the waning stages of a dike emplacement event, magmatic foams can be produced, extrude to the surface as the dike closes, and break through the upper lava flow thermal boundary layer (crust) to form foam mounds and surrounding moats.

Bibliographic note

©2017. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Zhang, F., Head, J. W., Basilevsky, A. T., Bugiolacchi, R., Komatsu, G., Wilson, L., … Zhu, M.‐H. (2017). Newly discovered ring‐moat dome structures in the lunar maria: Possible origins and implications. Geophysical Research Letters, 44, 9216–9224. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074416