Mineral Mapping of Moon Using Chandrayaan-2: Review Paper
Authors:-Saurabh S Joshi, Md. Zeeshan R, Ganesh B Dongre, Shashikant R Dikle
Abstract-Lunar mineral mapping is crucial for understanding the Moon’s formation, geological evolution, and resource potential. This review paper examines the significant contributions of the Chandrayaan-2 mission to this field. Prior to Chandrayaan-2, missions like Clementine and Chandrayaan-1 provided foundational mineralogical data, revealing the Moon’s diverse composition dominated by minerals such as plagioclase feldspar, pyroxenes, and olivine, with regional variations reflecting magmatic differentiation and impact processes. Chandrayaan-2, equipped with advanced instruments including the Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IIRS), significantly enhanced lunar mineral mapping capabilities. This review synthesizes key findings from Chandrayaan-2, highlighting its high-resolution spectral and spatial data that have refined our understanding of mineral distribution across the lunar surface. Methodologies employed encompass sophisticated spectral unmixing and analysis techniques applied to IIRS data, enabling the identification and mapping of subtle mineralogical variations, including hydration features and the composition of lunar geological units. The improved mineral maps generated by Chandrayaan-2 have profound implications for future lunar exploration, resource utilization strategies, and a more nuanced comprehension of planetary formation processes within our solar system. This paper underscores the enduring legacy of Chandrayaan- 2 in advancing lunar science.
