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Evolution of the rembrandt impact basin on Mercury

  • Thomas R. Watters
  • , James W. Head
  • , Sean C. Solomon
  • , Mark Robinson
  • , Clark R. Chapman
  • , Brett W. Denevi
  • , Caleb I. Fassett
  • , Scott L. Murchie
  • , Robert G. Strom

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

MESSENGER's second Mercury flyby revealed a ̃715-kilometer-diameter impact basin, the second-largest well-preserved basin-scale impact structure known on the planet. The Rembrandt basin is comparable in age to the Caloris basin, is partially flooded by volcanic plains, and displays a unique wheel-and-spoke-like pattern of basin-radial and basin-concentric wrinkle ridges and graben. Stratigraphic relations indicate a multistaged infilling and deformational history involving successive or overlapping phases of contractional and extensional deformation. The youngest deformation of the basin involved the formation of a ̃1000-kilometer-long lobate scarp, a product of the global cooling and contraction of Mercury.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)618-621
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume324
Issue number5927
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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