What is the key constituent defining the material of the lunar maria?
Answer
Basalt
The key constituent that defines the material making up the vast, dark plains known as the lunar maria is basalt. These plains are essentially ancient lava flows that settled into and filled some of the largest impact basins on the Moon. This basaltic rock forms the foundation of these regions, providing a stark compositional contrast to the brighter, older lunar highlands which are primarily composed of anorthosite. The eruption of massive flows of basaltic lava, characterized by being low in viscosity, allowed the molten rock to spread widely before cooling and hardening into the visible maria surface.
Related Questions
What is the key constituent defining the material of the lunar maria?What minerals high in iron and magnesium cause the maria's darker color?What rock type dominates the lighter-hued lunar highlands?Lunar basalts are notably characterized as being what, unlike many terrestrial basalts?Which mineral is the lunar highlands rock anorthosite rich in?What property allowed basaltic lava to spread across vast distances to form the maria?Which iron-titanium oxide mineral contributes to the dark character of mare basalts?What did early astronomers mistakenly believe the lunar maria were?The maria formed when basaltic lava flowed into and filled what features?What chemical content dictates the contrast between mafic mare basalts and felsic highland material?