The tectonic and volcanic history of Mercury as inferred from studies of scarps, ridges, troughs, and other lineaments.
Abstract
Tectonic and volcanic modification of the Mercurian surface is discussed, and nine landform classes are defined. An evolutionary chronology, based on reported interpretations of scarp, ridge, trough, and other lineament features, is presented, and the roles (in chronological order) of accretion and differentiation, tidal spindown, plains volcanism, heavy bombardment, cooling/contraction, Caloris impact, intense surface modification, basin subsidence, local plains volcanism, isostatic basin uplift, and light cratering are considered. The observational data were obtained by Mariner 10.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research
- Pub Date:
- October 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1029/JB083iB10p04883
- Bibcode:
- 1978JGR....83.4883D
- Keywords:
-
- Geochronology;
- Mercury (Planet);
- Planetary Surfaces;
- Structural Properties (Geology);
- Tectonics;
- Volcanology;
- Classifications;
- Cratering;
- Escarpments;
- Landforms;
- Mariner 10 Space Probe;
- Planetary Evolution;
- Spaceborne Photography;
- MERCURY (PLANET);
- TECTONICS;
- HISTORY;
- RIDGES;
- SURFACE;
- PLAINS;
- VOLCANISM;
- EVOLUTION;
- COOLING;
- BOMBARDMENT;
- MELTING;
- LITHOSPHERE;
- CALORIS BASIN;
- PHOTOMETRY;
- MORPHOLOGY;
- CRATERS;
- SURFACE FEATURES;
- LINEAMENTS;
- MARINER 10 MISSION;
- SPACECRAFT OBSERVATIONS;
- TROUGHS;
- SCARPS;
- Mercury:Chronology;
- Mercury:Tectonics;
- Mercury:Volcanism;
- Mercury Surface: Structure