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Internal Friction in Moon and Earth Rocks

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Abstract

RECENT measurements of the quality factor, Q, for mechanical vibrations generated by dropping parts of the Apollo lunar module and by moonquakes1 indicate that the Q of the Moon for these vibrations is of the order of 3,000, but seismological measurements of the Earth's rocks indicate Qs of 110 for the outer mantle2, with higher values for the inner mantle. It is the purpose of this report to indicate that these lunar results are consistent with a dislocation source for internal friction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Henry Krumb School of Mines, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027

    WARREN P. MASON

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  1. WARREN P. MASON
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MASON, W. Internal Friction in Moon and Earth Rocks. Nature 234, 461–463 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/234461a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/234461a0

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