What elemental signature causes the maria to have a low albedo appearance?
Answer
Higher concentration of Iron and Titanium
The distinct visual difference between the dark maria and the light highlands stems directly from their chemical composition. The basalt making up the maria contains a significantly higher concentration of heavier elements, primarily iron and titanium, when compared to the anorthosite of the highlands. This abundance of iron directly results in the maria being darker and less reflective, a quality referred to as low albedo. The highlands, conversely, appear light because their primary component, anorthosite, is rich in lighter minerals like feldspar.
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