Mafic Mound Analysis

In the 1990’s, Mafic Mound was found on the south pole of the Moon. Although volcano-like, it was formed by a different process. Two different theories have been hypothesized. The first theory is that the South Pole-Aitken Impact caused “a cauldron of melted rock as much as 30 miles deep” (American Geophysical Union, Brown University) to form. This melted rock crystallized and shrunk; the middle portion of the rock (still molten) squeezed out onto the moon’s surface, creating a mound. Another possible theory is the Moon’s mantle melted from the South Pole-Aitken Impact, and the impact created a “low-gravity” (American Geophysical Union, Brown University) basin. The upward rebound of this basin caused partially-melted mantle to erupt- forming