Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII (2006) 2135.pdf THE LUNAR GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM AND STATUS OF COPERNICUS QUADRANGLE MAPPING. L.R. Gaddis1, J.A. Skinner, Jr.1, T. Hare1, K. Tanaka1, B.R. Hawke2, P. Spudis3, B. Bussey3, C. Piet- ers4, and D. Lawrence5, 1U.S. Geological Survey, Astrogeology Program, 2255 N. Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, AZ (
[email protected]), 2PGD/SOEST, Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; 3Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD; 4Dept. Geological Sciences, Brown Univ., Providence, RI; 5Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM. Introduction: A pilot lunar geologic mapping pro- type localities of impact crater-related units that formed gram is underway [1-3], with funding from the NASA the basis for the original lunar stratigraphic mapping by Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program. Supported Shoemaker [4] and others [5, 6]. The quadrangle con- by newly available digital data, we are mapping a quad- tains Lower Imbrian basin-related materials (Alpes and rangle at 1:2.5M scale that centers on Copernicus crater Fra Mauro Fms.), Upper Imbrian mare basalts and pyro- [4-6]. The goal is to demonstrate integrated use of these clastic deposits (Mare Insularum, Sinus Aestuum, and data for geologic unit mapping on the Moon. For more marginal Mare Imbrium), Eratosthenian mare basalts information and periodic updates, please see: (central Mare Imbrium) and crater materials, and Coper- http:://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/PlanetaryMapping/Lunar/ nican impact and related deposits. With the stratigraphy Mapping Scheme and Scale: Use of digital map of Wilhelms [8] as a starting point, we are using color bases means that identification of map scale and layout and maturity information from Clementine to identify scheme for global mapping is adaptable and less restric- highland, volcanic, and crater-related units.