Abstract
Lunar chronology functions are calibrated from
Apollo samples that have a well-defined radiometric age and are
correlated to a region with a known crater density. Different chronology
functions have been constructed based on different crater counts and
different curve fits to crater-counting data. The Neukum Production
Function (NPF) is the most commonly used chronology function for the
Moon, but there also exists the Robbins Production Function (RPF). The
RPF is notable for featuring a much more rapid drop off in impactor flux
during the Imbrian period. Using an impact bombardment model, we modeled
the distribution of impact melt at the Apollo sites for the Imbrian
period. Large sub-basin craters like the 250 km Iridum sub-basin may be
the source of some melts at Apollo sites, but it is very difficult to
determine specific craters of origin for impact melts from this time
period. The distribution of Apollo melt ages is more compatible with the
steep decline in impactor flux during the Imbrian characterizing the RPF
than the more gradual decline of the NPF.