Review on Lunar Basalt Classification Based on Remote Sensing Data

Lunar basalts are one important type of lunar rocks, covering~17% of the lunar surface and mainly distributed in large flat basins in lunar near-side. They are considered to be originated from the lunar mantle deposits which result from early lunar magma ocean differentiation. Lunar basalts underwent less large impact disturbances and are relatively young, preserving early information of lunar volcanism. Different basalt geological units can provide temporal and spatial distribution records of lunar mantle melting, help to understand the evolution history of the lunar mantle and its composition, and is worthy of further research. This paper first presents some pioneering work of lunar basalts detection, and then describes the structure, chemical composition and spectral characteristics of major minerals of lunar basalt. Finally, different lunar basalt classifications based on remote sensing data are introduced. The method, results and inadequacy of each type of classification are also summed up.