How were Lunar Mare Formed?

What are lunar mare, and how were they formed?

What are lunar mare and how were they formed?

Lunar Mare Formation

Lunar mare are large, dark, flat areas on the Moon's surface. These vast basaltic plains are believed to have been formed by ancient volcanic activity that occurred billions of years ago.

Lunar mare, also known as "seas" in Latin, are large basaltic plains on the Moon's surface. They cover about 17% of the Moon's surface and are primarily found on the near side.

The formation of lunar mare can be attributed to ancient volcanic activity on the Moon. It is hypothesized that billions of years ago, when the Moon was geologically active, lava erupted from the interior and filled the impact basins created by earlier meteorite impacts. The basaltic lava flowed out and covered the existing terrain, resulting in the smooth, dark mare surfaces we see today.

As the Moon's interior cooled down and volcanic activity subsided, these vast volcanic plains known as lunar mare were left behind. The dark color of the mare is due to the presence of iron-rich minerals, such as basalt, in the lava flows.

Studying lunar mare provides valuable insights into the Moon's geological history and its volcanic past, shedding light on the processes that shaped the lunar surface over billions of years.