A.T. Basilevskya,c, B.A. Ivanovb, A. V. Ivanova, and J. W. Headc
a Vermadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry,
Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Kosygina 19, Moscow, 119991 Russia
e-mail: atbas@geokhi.ru
b Institute for Dynamics of Geospheres, RAS, Moscow, 119334 Russia
c Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912 USA
Received June 5, 2013; in final form, October 17, 2012
Abstract—We describe the results of the geologic analysis of high-resolution (0.5 m/px) LROC NAC images
of the landing site of the Luna 24 spacecraft, which landed in the southeastern part of Mare Crisium, drilled a
borehole to the depth of ~2 m and recovered a core, which was then delivered to the Earth. LROC NAC images
show that the spacecraft landed on the rim of the 65–m crater Lev. Image analysis was aided by calculations of
the expected thickness of ejecta from crater Lev found to be 0.5–1 m. Using these calculations and the results
of photogeologic analysis, we reconsidered the characteristics of the Luna 24 core material. This led to an
understanding of the geologic position of different parts of the Luna 24 core and allowed us to distinguish in
the core the intervals dominated by: 1—effects of arrival of ejecta from the 6.5–km crater Fahrenheit (Zone IV),
2—gradual reworking of the local regolith by small impacts (Zones II and III), and 3—emplacement of ejecta
of Lev crater, which is a secondary of the distant 22-km crater Giordano Bruno (Zone I). This understanding
allowed us to propose that some additional new analyses of the Luna 24 material be undertaken, with emphasis
on the study of Zone IV and Zone I. Additional analysis of zone IV could search for and identify material of
ejecta from the crater Fahrenheit and their comparisons with local materials, while new analysis of Zone I could
study the material derived from the deepest parts of the local regolith and search for material of the impactor
(ejecta from the very young Giordano Bruno crater on the lunar farside) that formed Lev crater.
Keywords: regolith, Luna 24 spacecraft, regolith core
DOI: 10.1134/S0016702913060025
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