Lunar basalts are notably characterized as being what, unlike many terrestrial basalts?
Answer
Anhydrous
A fascinating chemical aspect setting lunar basalts, including those in the maria, apart from many terrestrial basalts is that they are notably anhydrous, meaning they contain virtually no water or water-bearing minerals. This lack of volatile elements strongly suggests the Moon possessed extremely dry internal conditions when these massive lava flows solidified long ago. This dryness is confirmed through geochemical analysis, contrasting sharply with volcanic rocks formed on water-rich planets like Earth, where hydrothermal activity often influences rock formation.
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