Hyginus Crater

Most lunar craters are impact craters, however Hyginus crater (located at 7.75 ° N, 6.27 ° E, the Sinus Medii) is a volcanic crater known as a caldera. Two major pieces of evidence suggest that Hyginus was formed by volcanic processes. First, Higinus not has an edge in typical impact craters relief. Secondly, the Hyginus ring is irregular (non-circular), which is typical for craters caused by collapse. Also, if you look closely at a picture LROC NAC (attached), the interior of Higinus has numerous small irregular depressions are more likely to collapse characteristics, indicating a volcanic origin for Hyginus. These depressions are irregular in featured picture, distinguished by rugged, high-reflectance material around its edges.

The entire region of Hyginus, shown in my picture below, it is a complex piece of lunar geology. Not only do you have the volcanic crater Hyginus, but also Rima Higinus a linear rille, collapsed volcanic craters aligned with the linear rille, and pyroclastic deposits around the crater Hyginus.

Like all geological features relate to each other?

The Hyginus region is so incredible that he was a candidate landing sites and later canceled the Apollo 19 mission Had it been different, we would know much more about the pyroclastic materials and Hyginus boiler.

In a recent study, scientists have proposed a training model for Hyginus and Rima Hyginus. Firstly, one mantle portion magma rose vertically through the moon's crust. The magma stopped rising near the surface and spread laterally. This new material injection below the surface caused great stress on the crust, resulting in a failure. Eventually the original magmatic material further constructed under the surface further increased gas pressure, thereby increasing the pressure on the crust.

These efforts eventually cause Graben that formed along fault, and yet the release of the stress began a rash including pyroclastic materials. After the eruption of magma material an empty cavity beneath the surface it was left behind. This cavity collapsed, creating the crater Hyginus. The craters along a linear rille were also formed in a similar manner.

PS: Graben or tectonic fossa is the name given in structural geology to a depression of tectonic origin, usually in the shape of an elongated valley with flat bottom, formed when a land block is sunk to the surrounding territory as a result of the combined movements parallel or nearly parallel faults.

Source: Sarah Braden - LROC News System

Adaptation: Avani Soares