Non-mare silicic volcanism on the lunar farside at Compton–Belkovich
- Bradley L. Jolliff,Sandra A. Wiseman,Samuel J. Lawrence,Thanh N. Tran,Mark S. Robinson,Hiroyuki Sato,B. Ray Hawke,Frank Scholten,Jürgen Oberst,Harald Hiesinger, Carolyn H. van der Bogert,Benjamin T. Greenhagen,Timothy D. Glotch& David A. Paige Nature Geoscience (2011) doi:10.1038/ngeo1212
Abstract
Non-basaltic volcanism is rare on the Moon. The best known examples occur on the lunar nearside in the compositionally evolved Procellarum KREEP terrane. However, there is an isolated thorium-rich area—the Compton–Belkovich thorium anomaly—on the lunar farside for which the origin is enigmatic.
Here we use images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Cameras, digital terrain models and spectral data from the Diviner lunar radiometer to assess the morphology and composition of this region. We identify a central feature, 25 by 35 km across, that is characterized by elevated topography and relatively high reflectance. The topography includes a series of domes that range from less than 1 km to more than 6 km across, some with steeply sloping sides. We interpret these as volcanic domes formed from viscous lava. We also observe arcuate to irregular circular depressions, which we suggest result from collapse associated with volcanism. We find that the volcanic feature is also enriched in silica or alkali-feldspar, indicative of compositionally evolved, rhyolitic volcanic materials. We suggest that the Compton–Belkovich thorium anomaly represents a rare occurrence of non-basaltic volcanism on the lunar farside. We conclude that compositionally evolved volcanism did occur far removed from the Procellarum KREEP terrane.
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Yeah, but did it emit CO2?
Oh, not an active volcano. Still, it would be nice if we could go there. These days, we can’t even launch an astronaut into Low Earth Orbit, much less land on the Moon.
Are we a little low on news? It’s an interesting piece of information but it would have been important news if that volcano was active…
What about the Australian physicist Professor Brian J O’Brien?
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/a_professor_speaks_out_money_has_corrupted_our_global_warming_debate
Or the profit WWF has made by renting their logo?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/25/wwf-accused-sustainable-timber-scheme
… now this is news!!!
I bet the hot springs are nice.
A.Mole: I’m sure if the lack of oxygen doesn’t bother you.
I was kind of hoping we’d get an update on the predictions for sun cycle 24, comparing the current chart at http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SolarCycle/f10.gif with their predictions at the beginning of 2007 or 2008.
What would really be cool is if there were an active volcano on the moon of any kind. On the moon global warming isn’t affected by volcanos or CO2. Its just the sun, every other week…
A. Mole says:
July 25, 2011 at 4:14 pm
I bet the hot springs are nice.
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I’ll bet the hot springs are long since frozen, that’s why the aliens left. 🙂
A silicic/alkalic feldspar, rhyolitic volcano within a low-silicic, basaltic terrain …. somehow you have a compositionally different magma source within a huge, compositionally consistent mantle area. Shows the science of geology is also not “settled” and what we find, not “certain”.
Models are useful as highway maps are useful to plan your trip. They don’t tell you what you will find, though, just where it is you might start looking.
Ray: WUWT is a blog for people interested in all aspects of Science.So lighten up.
Keep the interesting stories coming Anthony and staff.
I don’t know what the significance of this ancient volcanism is, but it’s interesting that there is a “thorium-rich area” on the far side of the Moon. Since there’s plenty on Earth, I don’t suppose that it’s worth going to mine. But we should keep looking; maybe we’ll find something more valuable. That’s really all we need to rejuvenate interest in space travel—a gold rush!
/Mr Lynn
@Jack mosevich says:July 25, 2011 at 5:16 pm
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Agreed. It is good to see a range of articles, and always fascinating to read an article on space topics, the solar system, the universe etc. Keep on posting these stories.
I don’t mean to pile on, but one of the reasons I enjoy this blog is the broader scope of it. Climate is the main draw but as the subheader on the top of the pages states, many things are on topic here. Even perfectly whimsical things such as Josh’s cartoons. I hope it remains so.
And I’m one of those who finds lunar discoveries very interesting.
I suppose the big “if” here is “if” this is really a volcano in the normal sense of the word, and not some impact event that managed to mimic the look of a volcano. There’s a “we interpret” and “we suggest” in there that leaves a lot of wiggle room.
Hard to do geology from 238,000 miles away.
However, there is an isolated thorium-rich area—the Compton–Belkovich thorium anomaly—on the lunar farside for which the origin is enigmatic.
Wow. We’ve already found more water than was originally thought to be on the Moon. Have we now found a good source of fission reactor fuel? How high is the thorium concentration and how difficult will it be to extract?
And why haven’t we colonized the Moon yet? We were supposed to have a permanent base there well over 12 years ago.
☺
“However, there is an isolated thorium-rich area—the Compton–Belkovich thorium anomaly—on the lunar farside for which the origin is enigmatic. ”
Perhaps a deliberately buried monolith to be found nearby???
The sad part is that we are not going there to check it out. Hey, only a 1/4 million miles away.
It’s a fake from Hollywood.
;^)
Not settled indeed. On earth siliceous volcanism is associated with melting of basaltic crust in the presence of H2O in subduction zones. Wonder where the H2O came from.
“Perhaps a deliberately buried monolith to be found nearby???”
I’d like to see 2001 in 3D.
Thank you for the precision in the headline.
I never realized how much it annoyed me to see that misnomer, the darkside of the moon. Farside is so much better.
Amino Acids in Meteorites says:
July 25, 2011 at 6:06 pm
No matter, the Chinese are going there and we aren’t invited.
Man made volcano on Moon emits plume that will destroy life on earth – environmental catastrophy awaits…
Recent scientific modelling has shown that the boot prints of apollo astronauts have upset the delicate geological formations of the moon, These man made “luna footprints” have resulted after a nearly 40 year lag in the eruption of a massive volcano on the far side of the moon. The plume is expected to grow so large that it will obscure the moon in a distinct haze before this new lunar smog begins it’s journey to earth where it will interact with man made carbon pollution to accelerate man made global warming…
Government Policy advisors have predicted that a new regime of global taxation of energy use must be immediately implemented if we are to manage this new crisis…
The UN now demands new powers to implement the lunar smog tax and to staff a new global organsisation that will have three main tasks.
1. To save the planet from man made lunar smog.
2. to manage the collection, and application of funds from the lunar smog tax, and
3. To provide educational and media materials to instruct everyone about this new threat and the brave work done by the extremely intelligent and skilled scientists of the UN.
Bravo – is all that I can say.
Thorium is not really worth anything. Many mineral sands miners presently throw away their monazite concentrate despite it containing 5-10% ThO2.
When I say ‘throw away’ I mean they return it to the original sand stratum in an environmentally controlled and responsible manner of course.
Graeme;
Semi-cute. Tries too hard, tho’.
And the reason the authors didn’t specify “extinct” volcano is that they were writing for people who would have been insulted at the inference they were uneducated enough to think the authors were stupid enough to imagine it would have been a live one. So they weren’t writing for you (or others who think the “extinct ” observation is clever).
Leon Brozyna says:
July 25, 2011 at 8:07 pm
“I never realized how much it annoyed me to see that misnomer, the darkside of the moon.”
If it was good enough for Pink Floyd then its good enough for me! 😉