Characteristics analysis and evolution model of Ingenii Basin on the Moon based on multisource remote sensing data

This paper is the result of moon geological survey engineering.

Objective Mare basins constitute pivotal geological units on the lunar surface. Their geological evolution characteristics are comprehensively affected by both endogenic and exogenic dynamic geological processes. The ancient Ingenii Basin is located on the northwest rim of South Pole−Aitken Basin on the lunar farside. This special geographical location endows it with great significance for understanding lunar structure, composition, and the evolution of these dynamic geological processes.

Methods This study conducts a comprehensive and multi−faceted analysis of Ingenii Basin, encompassing surface attributes like albedo variations, soil maturity indices, topography, slope gradients, and roughness, alongside deep−seated features such as Bouguer gravity anomalies, crustal thickness, and compositional characteristics in elemental and mineral abundances.

Results The region of Ingenii Basin exhibits pronounced asymmetry, with a topographic profile characterized by elevated northwest regions and lower−lying southeast areas. Distinctive swirl patterns adorn the basin. The majority of the terrain, excluding swirls, steep basin walls, and impact crater walls, generally displays high maturity. The Ingenii Basin−forming impact event uplifted high−density mantle materials beneath the Moho surface, resulting in a positive gravity anomaly at the basin’s center, where the crustal thickness attains its minimum. A linear inverse correlation emerges between crust thickness and Bouguer gravity anomalies, particularly pronounced for gravity anomalies exceeding 200 mGal. Within the basin’s mare basalt regions, FeO and TiO₂ abundances are elevated, while compositional traits outside the Ingenii region generally mirror those of the impacted target. Through a multi−dimensional examination of surface, subsurface, and compositional features, we delineated the regional geological evolution mode of Ingenii Basin.

Conclusions The landform and composition of the Ingenii Basin are comprehensively affected by endogenic and exogenic dynamic geological processes, exhibiting the dual characteristics of the South Pole − Aitken Terrane and the Feldspathic Highlands Terrane, which is a window to understand the early evolutionary history of the Moon.