Lunar tectonics

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Abstract
The lunar lineaments are described and their origin is considered. The components of the lunar grid-system—a system of intersecting lineaments comprised of elongated ridges, joints, crater-chains, and rilles—are described, and methods for producing orthographic charts of the principal global families A, B, C, and D of the grid-system are given. Each family, or system, of lineaments has a well-defined strike and is distinguished from one major regional system of joints (system R 1 ) which is associated with Mare Imbrium The global systems display a strong symmetry about the Moon’s central meridian. Discussion of the origin of system R 1 and a similar regional system of joints associated with Mare Humorum leads to the conclusion that these maria are igneous sinks and were not produced by impact. Examples of dip-slip and strike-slip faults are given. General properties of the mutally orthogonal systems A and B are listed and interpreted in terms of a general meridional pressure in the Moon’s crust.

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