There are thousands of papers published about the Moon, making it very difficult to find the key publication for any given selenographic feature. In this listing I have included some of the most useful papers devoted to the geology of specific lunar features. Only a few papers are included from amateur astronomers because they normally do not present evidence that contributes to understanding the origins of features; nor do I include publications from the vast literature relating to the petrology and geochemistry of lunar samples.

Remarkably, many of the papers in this list were published 30 years ago when studies of Apollo images and samples were being done at a feverish pace. Sadly, for many lunar features there have not been any more recent investigations. Fortunately, many of the publications in this list are available online at the NASA ADS. Please send me the details of any papers that you think should be added to this list. Thanks!

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Aestatis, Lacus: Coombs, CR & BR Hawke (1992) Pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 303-312.

Alphonsus: Coombs, CR & 4 others (1990) The Alphonsus region: A geologic and remote-sensing perspective. Proc. 20th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 161-174.

Alphonsus Dark Halo Craters: Head, JW & L Wilson (1979) Alphonsus-type dark-halo craters: Morphology, morphometry and eruption conditions. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 10th, 2861-2897.

Alphonsus Eruption?: Doel, RE (1996) The Lunar Volcanism Controversy. Sky & Telescope (October) 26-30.

Apennine Bench Formation: Spudis, PD (1978) Composition and origin of the Apennine Bench Formation. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 9th, 3379-3394.

Apennine Mts: Spudis, P and JW Head (1977) Geology of the Imbrium Basin Apennine Mountains and relation to the Apollo 15 landing site. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 8th, 2785-2797.

Apollo Basin: Morrison, DA & DBJ Bussey (1998) The Apollo and Korolev basins and the stratigraphy of the lunar crust. Lunar & Planet. Sci. 28, 1501.

Apollo 14 Site (Fra Mauro): Head, JW & BR Hawke (1975) Geology of the Apollo 14 region (Fra Mauro): Stratigraphic history and sample provenance. Proc. Lunar Sci. Conf. 6th, 2483-2501.

Apollo 16 Site (Descartes): Head, JW (1974) Stratigraphy of the Descartes egion (Apollo 16): Implications for the origin of samples. Moon 11, 77-99.

Argaeus, Mt: Elger, TG (1892) Selenographical Notes: Mt. Argaeus and its surroundings. Observatory #194, 405-408.

Aristarchus: Guest, JE (1973) Stratigraphy of ejecta from the lunar crater Aristarchus. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 84, 2873-2894.

Aristarchus and Aristarchus Plateau: McEwen, AS & 5 others (1994) Clementine observations of the Aristarchus region of the Moon. Science 266, 1858-1862.

Aristarchus Plateau: Zisk, SH and 6 others (1977) The Aristarchus-Harbinger region of the Moon: Surface geology and history from recent remote sensing observations. Moon 17, 59-99.

Arzachael: Elger, TG (1892) Selenographical Notes: Arzachel. Observatory #193, 374-377.

Atlas: Hawke, BR, CR Coombs, LR Gaddis, PG Lucey & PD Owensby (1989) Remote sensing and geologic studies of localized dark mantle deposits on the Moon. Proc. 19th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 255-268.

Australe, Mare: Whitford-Stark, JL (1979) Charting the southern seas: The evolution of the lunar Mare Australe. Proc. 10th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 2975-2994.

Australe, Mare: Gillis, JJ & BL Jolliff (2002) An analysis of remotely sensed data of Mare Australe. Abstracts, Workshop on the Moon Beyond 2002, 3025.

Autumni, Lacus: Coombs, CR & BR Hawke (1992) Pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 303-312.

Balmer Basin: Hawke, BR & 8 more (2004) Remote sensing and geologic studies of the Balmer region of the Moon. Lunar & Planetary Science 35, 1190.

Bessel: Young, RA (1977) A stratigraphic model for Bessel crater and southern Mare Serenitatis. Impact and Explosion Cratering (Ed by Roddy, Peppin & Merrill), 527-538.

Bode Dark Mantling: Gaddis, LR, CM Pieters & BR Hawke (1985) Remote sensing of lunar pyroclastic mantling deposits. Icarus 61, 461-489.

Bode Dark Mantling: Hawke, BR, CR Coombs, BA Campbell, PG Lucey, CA Peterson & H Zisk (1991) Remote sensing of regional pyroclastic deposits on the north central portions of the lunar nearside. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 21, 377-389.

Buch B: Hawke, R and 6 others (2002) Igneous activity in the southern highlands of the Moon. J. Geophys. Res. 107, E12,5122, doi:10.1029/2000JE001494

Bullialdus: Pieters, CM (1991) Strengthening the case for lunar plutons. Geophys. Res. Letters 18, 2129-2132.

Cavalerius: Coombs, CR & BR Hawke (1992) Pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 303-312.

Cognitum, Mare: Bugiolacchi, R, PD Spudis & J Guest (2004) Lava flows in Mare Nubium and Mare Cognitum. Lunar & Planet. Sci. 35, 1507.

Cognitum, Mare: Hiesinger, HH, JW Head, U Wolfe, R Jaumann & G Neukum (2003) Ages and stratigraphy of mare basalts in Oceanus Procellarum, Mare Nubium, Mare Cognitum, and Mare Imbrium. J. Geophys. Res. 108, E7, 5065, doi:10.1029/2002JE001985, 2003.

Copernicus: Pieters, CM (1992) Copernicus crater central peak: Lunar mountain of unique composition. Science 215, 59-61.

Copernicus: Pieters, CM, MI Staid, EM Fischer, S Tomkins and G He (1994) A sharper view of impact craters from Clementine. Science 266, 1844-1847.

Copernicus H: Bell, JF & BR Hawke (1984) Lunar dark-haloed craters: Origin and implications from early mare volcanism. J. Geophys. Res. 89, B8, 6899-6910.

Crisium Basin: Bussey, DBJ & PD Spudis (2000) Compositional studies of the Orientale, Humorum, Nectaris and Crisium lunar basins. J. Geophys. Res 105, E2, 4235-4243.

Crisium Basin: Wichmann, RW & PH Schultz (1994) The Crisium basin: Implications of an oblique impact for basin ring formation and cavity collapse. Geol. Soc. Am. Sp. Paper 293, 61-72.

Crisium, Mare: Maxwell, TA & F El Baz (1978) The nature of rays and sources of highland material in Mare Crisium. Mare Crisium: The View from Luna 24, 89-103.

Cruger: Hawke, BR, CR Coombs & PG Lucey (1989) A remote sensing and geologic investigation of the Cruger region of the Moon. Proc. 19th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 127-135.

Descartes (Apollo 16): Head, JW (1974) Stratigraphy of the Descartes egion (Apollo 16): Implications for the origin of samples. Moon 11, 77-99.

Fahrenheit: Settle, M, MJ Cintala & JW Head (1979) Emplacement of Fahrenheit crater ejecta at the luna-24 site. Moon and Planets 20, 281-300.

Fecunditatis, Mare: Rajmon, D & P Spudis (2000) Geology and Stratigraphy of Mare Fecunditatis. Lunar & Planetary Science 31, 1913.

Franklin: Hawke, BR, CR Coombc, LR Gaddis, PG Lucey & PD Owensby (1989) Remote sensing and geologic studies of localized dark mantle deposits on the Moon. Proc. 19th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 255-268.

Gambart: Hawke, BR, CR Coombc, BA Campbell, PG Lucey, CA Peterson & H Zisk (1991) Remote sensing of regional pyroclastic deposits on the north central portions of the lunar nearside. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 21, 377-389.

Gargantuan Basin: Cadogan, PH (1974) Oldest and largest lunar basin? Nature 250, 315-316. (see also Procellarum basin)

Gassendi: Chevrel, S & PC Pinet (1992) Revisited geology of Gassendi crater from Earth-based near-infrared multispectral solid state imagng. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 249-258.

Giordano Bruno: Hartung, JB (1993) Giordano Bruno, the June 1975 meteoroid stream, encke, and other Taurid Complex objects. Icarus 104, 280-290.

Goclenius: Bryan, WB, PA Jazek & M-L Adams (1975) Volcanic and tectonic evolution of crater Goclenius, western Mare Fecunditatis. Proc. Lunar Sci. Conf. 6th, 2563-2569.

Grimaldi: Coombs, CR & BR Hawke (1992) Pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 303-312. (also Grimaldi F)

Grimaldi: Phillips, RJ & J Dvorak (1981) The origin of lunar mascons: Analysis of the Bouguer gravity associated with Grimaldi. Multi-Ring Basins (Schultz and Merrill, eds), 91-104.

Gruithuisen Domes: Wilson,L & JW Head (2003) Lunar Gruithuisen and Mairan domes: Rheology and mode of emplacement. J. Geophys. Res. 108, E2, 5012, doi:10.1029/2002JE001909.

Hadley Rille: Howard, KA, JW Head & GA Swann (1972) Geology of Hadley Rille. Proc. Third Lunar Sci.Conf. 1-14.

Hansteen Alpha (The Arrowhead): Hawke, BR, DJ Lawrence, DT Blewett, PG Lucey, GA Smith, PD Spudis & GJ Taylor (2003) Hansteen Alpha: A volcanic construct in the lunar highlands. J. Geophys. Res. 108, E7, 5069, doi:10.1029/2002JE002013, 2003.

Hansteen Alpha (The Arrowhead): Wagner, R, JW Head, U Wolf & G Neukum (2004) The Hansteen and Helmet volcanic dome on the Moon: Stratigraphy and ages. Lunar & Planet. Sci. 35, 1842.

Hedin: Coombs, CR & BR Hawke (1992) Pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 303-312.

Helmet, The (informal name): Bondarenko, NV & YuG Shkuratov (2000) Helmet Formation on the Moon: Characterization with Clementine multispectral data. Lunar & Planetary Sci. 31, 1146. (31.5°W, 16.5°S)

Helmet, The (informal name): Wagner, R, JW Head, U Wolf & G Neukum (2004) The Hansteen and Helmet volcanic dome on the Moon: Stratigraphy and ages. Lunar & Planet. Sci. 35, 1842.

Herigonius: Greeley, R & PD Spudis (1978) Mare volcanism in the Herigonius region of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 9th, 3333-3349. (sinuous rilles)

Herschel: Hawke, BR, CR Coombs, LR Gaddis, PG Lucey & PD Owensby (1989) Remote sensing and geologic studies of localized dark mantle deposits on the Moon. Proc. 19th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 255-268.

Hertzsprung Basin: Stockstill, KR & PD Spudis (1999) Geology and deposits of the Hertzsprung basin, lunar far side. Lunar & Planet. Sci. 29, 1236.

Humorum Basin: Bussey, DBJ & PD Spudis (2000) Compositional studies of the Orientale, Humorum, Nectaris and Crisium lunar basins. J. Geophys. Res 105, E2, 4235-4243.

Humorum Basin: Pieter, C, JW Head, TB McCord, JB Adams & S Zisk (1975)Geochemical and geologic units of Mare Humorum: Definition using remote sensing and lunar sample information. Proc. Lunar Sci. Conf. 6th, 2689-2710.

Imbrium Basin: Spudis, PH, BR Hawke & PG Lucey (1988) Materials and formation of the Imbrium Basin. Proc. 18th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 155-168.

Imbrium Lava Flows: Schaber, GG (1973) Lava flows in Mare Imbrium: Geologic evaluation from Apollo orbital photography. Proc. Fourth Lunar Sci.Conf. 73-92.

Imbrium Lava Flows: Staid, MI & CM Pieters (2001) Mineralogy of the last lunar basalts: Results from Clementine. J. Geophys. Res 106, E11, 27,887-27,900.

Imbrium, Mare: Hiesinger, HH, JW Head, U Wolfe, R Jaumann & G Neukum (2003) Ages and stratigraphy of mare basalts in Oceanus Procellarum, Mare Nubium, Mare Cognitum, and Mare Imbrium. J. Geophys. Res. 108, E7, 5065, doi:10.1029/2002JE001985, 2003.

Ina: Schultz, PH, M Staid & CM Pieters (2000) Recent lunar activity: Evidence and implications. Abstracts, Lunar Planet Sci. 31, 1919.

Korolev Basin: Morrison, DA & DBJ Bussey (1998) The Apollo and Korolev basins and the stratigraphy of the lunar crust. Lunar & Planet. Sci. 28, 1501.

Lagrange C: Coombs, CR & BR Hawke (1992) Pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 303-312.

Langrenus: Cohen, JL & CM Pieters (2000) Compositional complexities observed for the crater Langrenus. Lunar & Planetary Science 31, 1784.

Linne: Pike, RJ (1973) The lunar crater Linne. Sky & Telescope, Dec. 364-366.

Lomonosov-Fleming Basin: Giguere, TA and 7 others (2003) Remote sensing studies of the Lomonosov-Fleming region of the Moon. J. Geophys. Res 108, E11,5118, doi:10.1029/2003JE002069, 2003.

Mairan Domes: Wilson,L & JW Head (2003) Lunar Gruithuisen and Mairan domes: Rheology and mode of emplacement. J. Geophys. Res. 108, E2, 5012, doi:10.1029/2002JE001909.

Marginis Basin: Gillis, JJ & PD Spudis (2000) Geology of the Smythii and Marginis region of the Moon: Using integrated remotely sensed data. J. Geophys. Res 105, E2, 4217-4233.

Marginis Basin: Hiesinger, H & 3 others (1998) A new view of the stratigraphy of mare basalts in Marginis basin. Lunar & Planetary Science 28, 1249.

Marius Hills: Heather, DJ, SK Dunkin & L Wilson (2003) Volcanism on the Marius Hills plateau: Observational analyses using the Clementine multispectral data. J. Geophys. Res. 108, E3, 5017, doi:10:1029/2002JE001938, 2003.

Mendeleev: Eppler, D & G Heiken (1974) The Mendeleev crater chain: A description and discussion of origin. NASA TM X-58108 (unpublished)

Mersenius: Coombs, CR & BR Hawke (1992) Pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 303-312.

Mozart Rille: Coombs, CR, BR Hawke & L Wilson (1988) Geologic and remote sensing studies of Rima Mozart. Proc. 18th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 339-353.

Necho: Gifford, AW, TA Maxwell & F el-Baz (1979) Geology of the lunar farside crater Necho. Moon and Planets 21, 25-42.

Nectaris Basin: Spudis, PD, BR Hawke & PG Lucey (1989) Geology and deposits of the Lunar Nectaris Basin. Proc. 19th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 51-59.

Nectaris Basin: Bussey, DBJ & PD Spudis (2000) Compositional studies of the Orientale, Humorum, Nectaris and Crisium lunar basins. J. Geophys. Res 105, E2, 4235-4243.

Nubium, Mare: Bugiolacchi, R, PD Spudis & J Guest (2004) Lava flows in Mare Nubium and Mare Cognitum. Lunar & Planet. Sci. 35, 1507.

Nubium, Mare: Hiesinger, HH, JW Head, U Wolfe, R Jaumann & G Neukum (2003) Ages and stratigraphy of mare basalts in Oceanus Procellarum, Mare Nubium, Mare Cognitum, and Mare Imbrium. J. Geophys. Res. 108, E7, 5065, doi:10.1029/2002JE001985, 2003.

Orientale Basin: Head, JW (1974) Orientale multiring basin interior and implications for the petrogenesis of lunar highland samples. Moon 11, 327-356.

Orientale Basin: Bussey, DBJ & PD Spudis (2000) Compositional studies of the Orientale, Humorum, Nectaris and Crisium lunar basins. J. Geophys. Res 105, E2, 4235-4243.

Orientale Dark Ring (Mare Pacificus): Head, JW, L Wilson & CM Weitz (2002) Dark ring in southwestern Orientale basin: Origin as a single pyroclastic eruption. J. Geophys. Res. 107, E1, 5001, doi:10.1029/2002JE001438, 2002.

Parry Rille: Head, JW and L Wilson (1993) Lunar graben formation due to near-surface deformation accompanying dike emplacement. Planet. Space Sci. 41, 719-727.

Plato: Gaddis, LR, CM Pieters & BR Hawke (1985) Remote sensing of lunar pyroclastic mantling deposits. Icarus 61, 461-489.

Procellarum, Oceanus: Whitford-Stark, JL and JW Head (1980) Stratigraphy of Oceanus Procellarum basalts: Sources and styles of emplacement. J. Geophys. Res. 85, B11, 6579-6609.

Procellarum, Oceanus: Hiesinger, HH, JW Head, U Wolfe, R Jaumann & G Neukum (2003) Ages and stratigraphy of mare basalts in Oceanus Procellarum, Mare Nubium, Mare Cognitum, and Mare Imbrium. J. Geophys. Res. 108, E7, 5065, doi:10.1029/2002JE001985, 2003.

Procellarum, Oceanus, Northern: Boroughs, LL and PD Spudis (2001) The stratigraphy of lava flows in northern Oceanus Procellarum, Moon. Lunar & Planet. Sci. 32, 1192.

Procellarum Basin: Whitaker, EA (1981) The lunar Procellarum basin. Multi-Ring Basins (Schultz and Merrill, eds), 105-111.

Reiner Gamma: Bell, JF & BR Hawke (1981) The Reiner Gamma formation: Composition and origin as derived from remote sensing observations. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 12B, 679-694.

Riccioli: Coombs, CR & BR Hawke (1992) Pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 303-312.

Rumker: Whitford-Stark, JL and JW Head (1977) The Procellarum volcanic complexes: Contrasting styles of volcanism. Proc. Lunar Sci. Conf. 8th, 2705-2724.

Schickard: Blewett, DT, BR Hawke, PG Lucey, GJ Taylor, R Jaumann & PD Spudis (1995) Remote sensing and geologic studies of the Schiller-Schickard region of the Moon. J. Geohys. Res. 100, E8, 16,959-16,977.

Schiller-Zucchius Basin: Blewett, DT, BR Hawke, PG Lucey, GJ Taylor, R Jaumann & PD Spudis (1995) Remote sensing and geologic studies of the Schiller-Schickard region of the Moon. J. Geohys. Res. 100, E8, 16,959-16,977.

Schlüter A: Coombs, CR & BR Hawke (1992) Pyroclastic deposits on the western limb of the Moon. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. 22, 303-312.

Schrodinger Basin: Shoemaker, EM, MS Robinson & EM Eliason (1994) The South Pole region of the Moon as seen by Clementine. Science 266, 1851-1854.

Serenitatis, Mare: Bell, JF & BR Hawke (1995) Compositional variability of the Serenitatis/Tranquillitatis region of the Moon from telescopic multispectral imaging and spectroscopy. Icarus 118, 51-68.

Serenitatis, Mare: Solomon, SC & JW Head (1979) Vertical movement in mare basins: Relation to mare emplacement, basin tectonics, and lunar thermal history. J Geophys. Res. 84, 1667-1682.

Sirsalis Rille: Head, JW and L Wilson (1993) Lunar graben formation due to near-surface deformation accompanying dike emplacement. Planet. Space Sci. 41, 719-727.

Smythii Basin: Strain, PL & F El-Baz (1979) Smythii basin topography and comparisons with Orientale. Proc. 5th Lunar Planet. Sci.Conf., 2609-2621.

Smythii Basin: Gillis, JJ & PD Spudis (2000) Geology of the Smythii and Marginis region of the Moon: Using integrated remotely sensed data. J. Geophys. Res 105, E2, 4217-4233.

South Pole-Aitken Basin: Pieters, CM & 4 others (2001) Rock Types of the South Pole-Aitken basin and extent of basaltic volcanism. J. Geophys. Res 106, E11, 28,001-28,022.

South Pole-Aitken Basin: Hiesinger, HH & JW Head (2004) Lunar South Pole-Aitken impact basin: Topography and mineralogy. Lunar & Planet. Sci 35, 1164.

South Pole Region: Whitaker, EA (1953) The lunar south polar region. J. Brit. Astron. Assoc. 64, 234-242.

Sulpicius Gallus Formation: Lucchitta, BK & HH Schmidt (1974) Orange material in the Sulpicius Gallus Formation at the southern edge of Mare Serenitatis. Proc. 5th Lunar Conf., 223-234.

Taurus-Littrow Mts: Reed, VS & EW Wolfe (1975) Origin of the Taurus-Littrow massifs. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 6th, 2443-2461.

Tranquillitatis, Mare: Rajmon, D, A Reid & P Spudis (xxxx) Geology and Stratigraphy of Mare Tranquillitatis. Abstracts, 62nd Ann. Meteoritical Soc. Meeting, 5238.

Tycho: Le Mouelie, S, PG Lucey, Y Langevin & BR Hawke (2002) Calculating iron contents of lunar highland materials surrounding Tycho crater from integrated Clementine UV-visible and near-infrared data. J. Geophys. Res. 107, E10, 5074, doi:10.1029/2000JE001484

Tycho: Morris, AR, JW Head, J-L Margot & DB Campbell (2000) Impact melt distribution and emplacement on Tycho: A new look and an old question. Lunar & Planetary Science 31, 1828.

Tycho: Pieters, CM, MI Staid, EM Fischer, S Tomkins and G He (1994) A sharper view of impact craters from Clementine. Science 266, 1844-1847.

Wargentin: Blewett, DT, BR Hawke, PG Lucey, GJ Taylor, R Jaumann & PD Spudis (1995) Remote sensing and geologic studies of the Schiller-Schickard region of the Moon. J. Geohys. Res. 100, E8, 16,959-16,977.