125 Lunar Science and Exploration in the Artemis Era

Current and anticipated science return in the areas of geology, composition, and interior of the Moon from current lunar-focused studies and upcoming payloads expected to land on the Moon in the next decade.

Monday, 20 October 2025
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
HBGCC, 214C

Using Radar Surface Reflectance to Investigate Cryptomaria: A Comparative Study of Lunar Deposits

Paper number: 125-9
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 3:35 PM – 3:50 PM

Authors

Abstract

Cryptomaria are ancient mare basalt deposits buried beneath high-albedo highlands ejecta, obscuring them from traditional optical and spectral detection methods. Identifying cryptomaria is critical for understanding the early volcanic and impact history of the Moon, but current approaches remain limited. This study explores the potential of radar surface reflectance, as measured by the Lunar Radar Sounder (LRS) onboard Kaguya, to detect cryptomaria based on differences in subsurface material properties.

LRS surface reflectivity captures radar backscatter from the upper ~50–75 meters of the Moon’s surface, providing insight into physical properties such as density, porosity, and roughness within this range of depth. While cryptomaria are often deeply buried, there is evidence in some regions for shallower deposits, within tens of meters of the surface, that may fall within the detection limits of the LRS (Bramson et al., 2022; Wang & Qiu, 2018). Given that basaltic cryptomare is denser and less porous than overlying highlands regolith, we hypothesize that these buried units may enhance surface reflectance power relative to regions without exposed or buried basalts. We compare radar reflectivity across known mare regions, highland terrains, farside impact basins, and regions suspected to contain cryptomaria in the subsurface. Additionally, we assess how differences in surficial regolith composition, particularly between low-albedo mare soils and high-albedo highlands regolith, may influence the radar signal. If validated, this approach may enable future mapping of cryptomaria in regions where they have not yet been identified. Such applications are increasingly relevant in the Artemis era, where understanding subsurface geology is essential for science and in situ resource utilization.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-414553

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