How does the material found within the SPA basin floor compare chemically to the Moon’s maria?
Answer
It is chemically distinct from the more common basaltic rock found on the Moon’s maria.
A crucial scientific finding regarding the South Pole–Aitken basin is that the composition of the material revealed on its floor differs chemically from the typical basaltic rock characteristic of the Moon's maria, or dark plains. Researchers hypothesize that the impact was powerful enough to breach the crust and churn up material originating from the Moon's deeper crustal layers or even the lunar mantle, thus providing a sample of the Moon's interior composition.
Related Questions
What distinction does the South Pole–Aitken basin hold in the entire Solar System known to date?What is the approximate diameter stretching across the South Pole–Aitken basin?How deep does the South Pole–Aitken basin plunge below the surrounding plain?How does the material found within the SPA basin floor compare chemically to the Moon’s maria?What geophysical finding was detected deep underneath the gigantic South Pole–Aitken structure?Why was the South Pole–Aitken basin difficult to study clearly before the start of space exploration?What geological process resulted from the SPA impact's immense energy release early in lunar history?How does the SPA event compare conceptually to the formation of features like Tycho or Copernicus craters?Which specific crater, mentioned in the basin's name, is actually situated within the boundaries of the larger South Pole–Aitken basin?How does the SPA’s location and formation contribute to understanding the lunar dichotomy?