On the origin of a wedge crack within the icy crust of Europa

Physics

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Mineral Physics: Creep And Deformation, Physical Properties Of Rocks: Fracture And Flow, Planetology: Comets And Small Bodies: Ice, Planetology: Solar System Objects: Jovian Satellites

Scientific paper

We suggest that a crack that developed into a wedge-shaped band within the icy crust of Europa (at ~28°S, 170°W [see Schenk and McKinnon, 1989, Figure 4; Prockter et al., 1999, Figure 1]) originated under an applied compressive stress through the operation of a frictional sliding mechanism. We analyze this suggestion using a scale-independent, sliding crack model and obtain an estimate of the maximum compressive stress to initiate the crack that compares reasonably well with earlier estimates [Helfenstein and Parmentier, 1985; McEwen, 1986; Greenberg et al., 1998] of Europan crustal stresses that are based upon elastic deformation of a shell. We then show through an application of both power law dislocation creep and diffusion creep that colder, near-surface Europan ice appears to be capable of supporting the deduced stresses with little relaxation over a period from 104 to 105 years.

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