{"id":6576,"date":"2024-11-05T19:19:45","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T19:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/?page_id=6576"},"modified":"2025-10-14T12:10:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T12:10:20","slug":"lunar-volcanism","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/lunar-volcanism\/","title":{"rendered":"Lunar Volcanism"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n

Lunar Volcanism<\/h1>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n

Types of Volcanic Features<\/h3>\n

The Moon is a volcanic wonderland with multiple types of volcanism observed on its surface, although most lunar volcanism is concentrated on the lunar nearside (the side of the Moon we see from Earth). Most of the Moon’s volcanic features are similar to volcanic features that we see on Earth.<\/p>\n

Hover over or click on each row in the table to see an example of the feature on the Moon.<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/th>\nDescription<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Mare<\/td>\nRelatively flat planes of cooled basaltic (iron-rich) magma<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Domes (shields)<\/td>\n100-250 meter (330-820 ft) tall mounds of crystalized magma<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cinder cones<\/td>\n< 100 meter tall cone-shaped features<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sinuous rilles<\/td>\nCrevices left by lava channels that usually meander away from impact craters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pyroclastic deposits<\/td>\nDark volcanic rocks & glass ejected during explosive eruptions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n <\/p>\n

Lunar Maria<\/h3>\n

The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains formed by low viscosity lava flowing into ancient impact basins. The term mare, which means “sea” in latin, was used by early astronomers when describing the Moon as these regions were thought to be large, ancient oceans or seas of water. Today, we know the maria cover approximately 16% of the lunar surface and are dark to the naked eye because the volcanic rocks making them up are iron-rich in composition. These are similar to volcanic rocks that we see on Earth in places like Hawaii and Iceland.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n

History of Lunar Volcanism<\/h3>\n

Lunar volcanism began around 4.4 billion years ago and was most active between 3.8 and 3.0 billion years ago; most of the lunar maria were formed during this time. Volcanic activity declined sharply after this, but recent observations from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter suggest that smaller-scale volcanism continued until approximately 100 million years ago. While the Moon is not volcanically active today, the discovery of geologically young volcanic materials (~100 million years old) raises important questions about how such a small planetary body like the Moon could retain enough heat in its interior for volcanism to last that long.<\/p>\n

\n

Ga = billion years ago<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Pre-Nectarian Period \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t > 4.1 Ga \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Nectarian Period \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t 3.9 – 4.1 Ga \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Early Imbrian Period \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t 3.9 – 3.6 Ga \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Late Imbrian Period \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t 3.6 – 3.2 Ga \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Eratosthenian Period \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t 3.2 – 1.5 Ga \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Copernican Period \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t 1.5 Ga – Present \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Lunar magma ocean \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Crust crystallizes \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Earliest cryptomare sample \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Most lunar granites (silicic rocks) crystalize \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Rare but high-volume volcanic eruptions \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Gruithuisen Domes formed \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Peak mare formation (high-Ti) \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Low-Ti basaltic mare formation \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Mare production begins to decline \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Continued decline in mare formation \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Youngest sinuous rilles \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Rare volcanic activity \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t Irregular Mare Patches (IMPs) \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t 120 million-year-old volcanic glass samples \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Pre-Nectarian Period (> 4.1 Ga) <\/p>\n

    \n
  • Lunar magma ocean <\/li>\n
  • Crust crystallizes <\/li>\n
  • Earliest cryptomare sample <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Nectarian Period (3.9 – 4.1 Ga) <\/p>\n

      \n
    • Most lunar granites (silicic rocks) crystalize <\/li>\n
    • Rare but high-volume volcanic eruptions <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t Early Imbrian Period (3.9 – 3.6 Ga) \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
        \n
      • Gruithuisen Domes formed <\/li>\n
      • Peak mare formation (high-Ti) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t Late Imbrian Period (3.6 – 3.2 Ga) \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
          \n
        • Low-Ti basaltic mare formation <\/li>\n
        • Mare production begins to decline <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t Eratosthenian Period (3.2 – 1.5 Ga) \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
            \n
          • Continued decline in mare formation <\/li>\n
          • Youngest sinuous rilles <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t Copernican Period (1.5 Ga – Present) \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
              \n
            • Rare volcanic activity <\/li>\n
            • Irregular Mare Patches (IMPs) <\/li>\n
            • 120 million-year-old volcanic glass samples <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":254,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-fullscreen.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6576","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/254"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6576"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6576\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7314,"href":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6576\/revisions\/7314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/lunarvise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}