Impact melt flows at Lowell crater

摘要

A deposit of low-albedo lobate material occurs on the southeastern wall and floor of Lowell on the western Outer Montes Rook ring of the lunar Orientale basin. Lowell is an Upper lmbrian, 66-km diameter crater located at 13° S, 257° E (103° W). The lobate material begins at the lowest part of the rim of Lowell H, a 9-km diameter crater superposed on the southeast rim and inner wall of Lowell, and the material extends ～14-15 km down the slope and across Lowell's eastern floor. This lobate material resembles lava flows with a linear form, lobate margins, central channels, and embayment relations with older higher terrain. Srivastava et al. (2013a) interpret it to be of volcanic origin, with a vent on the floor of Lowell H. We suggest instead that the lobate material is impact melt derived from Lowell H. In this context, the material splashed out and flowed over the low northwestern rim of Lowell H and continued to flow down to and across the floor of the larger crater Lowell. The morphology and composition of this material resembles that of other impact melt deposits on the Moon.