Figure 221
Click
here for larger NASA image
Click
here for chart showing location
Click
here for larger NASA image
Click
here for chart showing location
This detailed view of a mare surface near the eastern edge of Mare
Serenitatis, just west of the Apollo 17 landing site, shows the numerous
small grooves. They are unusual features that have not been observed in
such large numbers elsewhere. They are here developed in a thick accumulation
of regolith overlying an ancient mare basalt. At first glance, resembling
chains of secondary impact craters, they are more logically interpreted
as structural features. A likely explanation is that they are the result
of drainage of unconsolidated regolith into openings caused by fissuring
in the consolidated bedrock. At some localities, drainage did not occur
at a uniform rate along the fissure but was concentrated at certain points,
resulting in a series of unequally spaced, pitlike depressions (arrows)
along the groove. -B.K.L.
Report Source: NASA SP-362, Page 209, Figure 221
This web page was created by Francis Ridge
for The Lunascan Project
Section Directories 24
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