Widespread and voluminous flood volcanism in the northern high latitudes of Mercury revealed by MESSENGER: Relation to global volcanic processes

Details Widespread and voluminous flood volcanism in the northern high latitudes of Mercury revealed by MESSENGER: Relation to global volcanic processes Widespread and voluminous flood volcanism in the northern high latitudes of Mercury revealed by MESSENGER: Relation to global volcanic processes

Dec 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p43e..10h&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P43E-10

Mathematics

Logic

[5480] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Volcanism, [6235] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mercury

Scientific paper

Following the Mariner 10 flybys in 1974-75, the presence and importance of volcanism on Mercury was extensively debated. Uncertainty persisted until the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) flybys in 2008-2009 confirmed that volcanism had been widespread. Questions that remain after those flybys include the global extent of volcanic plains, their style and mode of emplacement, their temporal distribution, and their association with other geological features. MESSENGER high-resolution images of Mercury obtained from orbit are providing insight into these issues and reveal that a large contiguous area of smooth plains that exceeds ~6% of the surface of the planet occupies much of the high northern latitudes. Smooth surface morphology, embayment relationships, color data, candidate vents and flow fronts, and a population of partly to wholly buried (ghost) craters provide evidence for a volcanic origin for these plains and emplacement to depths in excess of a kilometer. Nearby is an unusual assemblage of 5-10 km-diameter pits, teardrop-shaped hills, rough plains, and distal lobate-margined smooth plains, interpreted to represent source vents, lava sculpting of underlying terrain, and distal emplacement of extensive flow lobes. MESSENGER X-Ray Spectrometer data of the northern plains and elsewhere provide evidence for compositions broadly similar to terrestrial komatiites. This volcanic assemblage is consistent with the rapid emplacement of high-temperature, low-viscosity komatiite-like flood lavas and the thermal erosion of subjacent terrain. The age of these plains is similar to those associated with and postdating the Caloris impact basin, confirming that volcanism was an important process in the post-heavy-bombardment era on Mercury. These extensive plains, in the context of global volcanic deposits, expand our understanding of the nature and history of volcanism on Mercury.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Widespread and voluminous flood volcanism in the northern high latitudes of Mercury revealed by MESSENGER: Relation to global volcanic processes does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Widespread and voluminous flood volcanism in the northern high latitudes of Mercury revealed by MESSENGER: Relation to global volcanic processes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Widespread and voluminous flood volcanism in the northern high latitudes of Mercury revealed by MESSENGER: Relation to global volcanic processes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-872785