Global Mg/Si and Al/Si Distributions on Lunar Surface Derived from Chang'E-2 X-ray Spectrometer

TL;DR

This study presents the first global maps of Mg/Si and Al/Si ratios on the Moon's surface derived from Chang'E-2 X-ray spectrometer data, revealing terrain-correlated compositional variations.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed data analysis method for CE2XRS and provides the first global Mg/Si and Al/Si distribution maps of the lunar surface.

Findings

Mg/Si ratios are higher in mare regions

Al/Si ratios show an inverse pattern to Mg/Si

Distributions correlate with lunar terrains

Abstract

X-ray fluorescence remote sensing technique plays a significant role in the chemical compositions research of the Moon. Here we describe the data analysis method for China's Chang'E-2 X-ray spectrometer (CE2XRS) in detail and present the preliminary results: the first global Mg/Si and Al/Si maps on the lunar surface. Our results show that the distributions of Mg/Si and Al/Si correlate well with the terrains of the Moon. The higher Mg/Si ratio corresponding to the mare regions while the lower value corresponding to the highland terrains. The map of Al/Si ratio shows a reverse relationship with the map of Mg/Si ratio.