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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets

 

Keywords

  • lunar soil
  • MGM
  • space weathering

Index Terms

  • Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Moon
  • Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Remote sensing
  • Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Surface materials and properties
Abstract
Cited By (1)
 

Abstract

Using the modified Gaussian model to extract quantitative data from lunar soils

Sarah K. Noble

Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Carlé M. Pieters

Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Takahiro Hiroi

Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Lawrence A. Taylor

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

The Lunar Soil Characterization Consortium (LSCC) has examined and characterized a suite of lunar soils with a wide range of compositions and maturities. The purpose of this study is to compare the Vis/NIR spectral properties of these lunar soils with their petrologic and chemical compositions using the modified Gaussian model (MGM) to obtain quantitative data about the character of relatively weak near-infrared absorption bands. Useful compositional information can be extracted from high-quality soil spectra using the MGM. The model had some difficulty fitting absorption bands in the 2 μm region of the lunar spectrum, but bands in the 1 and 1.2 μm regions provided physically realistic results. The model was able to distinguish high-Ca and low-Ca pyroxenes in the LSCC suite of lunar soils in the appropriate relative abundance. In addition, unexpected insights into the nature and causes of absorption bands in lunar soils were identified. For example, at least two distinct absorption bands are required in the 1.2 μm region of the spectrum, and neither of these bands can be attributed to plagioclase or agglutinates, but are found instead to be largely due to pyroxene.

Received 23 March 2005; accepted 7 June 2006; published 22 November 2006.

Citation: Noble, S. K., C. M. Pieters, T. Hiroi, and L. A. Taylor (2006), Using the modified Gaussian model to extract quantitative data from lunar soils, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E11009, doi:10.1029/2006JE002721.

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