| Name: | Sabarinath M D |
| Affiliation: | Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata |
| Conference ID: | ASI2025_161 |
| Title: | Minor Element Mapping On Lunar Surface using CLASS Data |
| Authors: | Sabarinath M D 1, Netra S. Pillai 2, Shyama Narendranath .K.C 3 |
| Authors Affiliation: | 1 Sabarinath M D (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur - 741246, India)
2 Netra S. Pillai (U R Rao Satellite Centre Indian Space Research Organisation, Bangalore - 560017, India)
3 Shyama Narendranath .K.C (U R Rao Satellite Centre Indian Space Research Organisation, Bangalore - 560017, India) |
| Mode of Presentation: | Poster |
| Abstract Category: | Sun, Solar System, Exoplanets, and Astrobiology |
| Abstract: | Minor element analysis of the lunar surface provides crucial insights into the Moon’s geological history and formation processes. Transition elements like Mn, Cr, and V are important in this study because their properties can indicate the presence of distinct lunar rock types and thermal history. We use lunar X-ray data from Chandrayaan-2 Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) to map the minor elements on the lunar surface. The primary focus is on detecting minor elements such as Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), and Vanadium (V) through X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. A novel approach applying peak detection and spectral modelling was applied to detect signatures of these elements in CLASS spectra during strong flares.
To ensure accurate element identification, a solar flare-based ultra-filtration mechanism was employed. This mechanism filtered out regions which had very distinct peaks of minor elements in the XRF line spectra. Then the Gaussian fitting algorithms were applied to extract peak parameters such as width and centre, from smoothed spectral data. These peaks corresponded to characteristic X-ray energies emitted by the targeted elements. The intensity of these elements was normalised against Silicon, which is uniformly distributed across the lunar surface. This normalisation allowed for the accurate mapping of element distribution while minimising geometric effects caused by variations in the solar zenith angle.
We have generated spatial maps of Cr, Mn, and V across the lunar surface. The maps suggest a higher abundance of the detected minor elements in the lunar highlands and polar regions. These maps are first of its kind and could potentially provide new insights into the minor element composition of the lunar surface, and offer valuable contributions to the field of lunar geochemistry. |
