A Geologic Characterization of Hadley Rille and Palus Putredinis

Mckenzie Ozee, Bailey Puckett, Amanda Richter, Bailey Bates Kickapoo High School, Springfield, Missouri

October 22nd, 2014

“We choose to go to the ‘Poo not because it is easy…. but because it is hard”

Objective

Provide a geologic interpretion of Hadley Rilleand Palus Putredinis in southeast Mare Imbrium

Region of Study

Mare Imbrium Hadley Rille

AppennineMountains

Hadley Crater

Mare Sarenitatis

Copernicus Crater

Significance of Study

To provide a better understanding of the geologic processes that occurred in southeast Mare

Imbrium and provide insight into the evolution of the lunar crust

Methodology• Analyzed images provided by the Lunar and Planetary Institute

at http://www.lpi.usra.edu/exploration/education/hsResearch/moon_101/

• Constraints• Characterization was limited to these three images

• Identified the major geological features and structures observed on the surface near Hadley Rille- Elbow Crater

• Qualitatively described the geologic structures and processes that occurred in Hadley Rille- Palus Putredinis

• Relatively dated geologic events in the region of study.

Analysis of Hadley RilleFresnel Mountains

Apollo 15 Landing Site

Elbow Crater

Mons Hadley Delta

Hadley Crater

Hadley Rille

Mare Imbrium

Appennine Mountains

Linear Scarps

Rima Hadley

Analysis of Elbow Crater

Elbow Crater

Dune Crater

Hadley Rille

Analysis of Palus Putredinis

Dune Crater

1.)Fresnel Mountains

4.)Elbow Crater

1.)Mons Hadley Delta

5.)Hadley Crater

3.)Hadley Rille

2.)Infilling of Mare Imbrium

1.)AppennineMountains

6.)Linear Scarps

1.)Rima Hadley

Relative Dating of Hadley Rille-Palus Putredinus

With 1 being the oldest and 6 being the youngest

Order of Major Geologic Events

• The Appennine Mountains formed by a large impact creating a Multi-Ring Basin

• Multi-Ring Basin was filled in by flood basalts creating Mare Imbrium

• Extensive impacting (LHB) resulted in the collapse of a lava tube, forming the Hadley Rille

• Linear Scarps formed as a result of crustal extension

Conclusions• We analyzed three different scale images of the Palus

Putredinus region

• The presence of simple and complex impact craters indicate that this region has been modified by impacts and explain the origins of the Appennine Mountains and surrounding mountain chains

• The presence of Mare Imbrium and Hadley rille are indicative of volcanism being a predominant process in the region

• Linear scarps and mountain chains are indicative that crustal extensioning took place and may have created the highland regions to the south of Hadley rille.