Volcanism on mercury: Evidence from the first MESSENGER flyby

James W. Head; Scott L. Murchie; Louise M. Prockter; Mark Robinson; Sean C. Solomon; Robert G. Strom; Clark R. Chapman; Thomas R. Watters; William E. McClintock; David T. Blewett; Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis

doi:10.1126/science.1159256

Volcanism on mercury: Evidence from the first MESSENGER flyby

James W. Head, Scott L. Murchie, Louise M. Prockter, Mark Robinson, Sean C. Solomon, Robert G. Strom, Clark R. Chapman, Thomas R. Watters, William E. McClintock, David T. Blewett, Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis

Earth and Space Exploration, School of (SESE)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

164 Scopus citations

Abstract

The origin of plains on Mercury, whether by volcanic flooding or impact ejecta ponding, has been controversial since the Mariner 10 flybys (1974-75). High-resolution images (down to 150 meters per pixel) obtained during the first MESSENGER flyby show evidence for volcanic vents around the Caloris basin inner margin and demonstrate that plains were emplaced sequentially inside and adjacent to numerous large impact craters, to thicknesses in excess of several kilometers. Radial graben and a floor-fractured crater may indicate intrusive activity. These observations, coupled with additional evidence from color images and impact crater size-frequency distributions, support a volcanic origin for several regions of plains and substantiate the important role of volcanism in the geological history of Mercury.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	69-72
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	321
Issue number	5885
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1159256
State	Published - Jul 4 2008

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title = "Volcanism on mercury: Evidence from the first MESSENGER flyby",

abstract = "The origin of plains on Mercury, whether by volcanic flooding or impact ejecta ponding, has been controversial since the Mariner 10 flybys (1974-75). High-resolution images (down to 150 meters per pixel) obtained during the first MESSENGER flyby show evidence for volcanic vents around the Caloris basin inner margin and demonstrate that plains were emplaced sequentially inside and adjacent to numerous large impact craters, to thicknesses in excess of several kilometers. Radial graben and a floor-fractured crater may indicate intrusive activity. These observations, coupled with additional evidence from color images and impact crater size-frequency distributions, support a volcanic origin for several regions of plains and substantiate the important role of volcanism in the geological history of Mercury.",

author = "Head, {James W.} and Murchie, {Scott L.} and Prockter, {Louise M.} and Mark Robinson and Solomon, {Sean C.} and Strom, {Robert G.} and Chapman, {Clark R.} and Watters, {Thomas R.} and McClintock, {William E.} and Blewett, {David T.} and Gillis-Davis, {Jeffrey J.}",

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T2 - Evidence from the first MESSENGER flyby

AU - Head, James W.

AU - Murchie, Scott L.

AU - Prockter, Louise M.

AU - Robinson, Mark

AU - Solomon, Sean C.

AU - Strom, Robert G.

AU - Chapman, Clark R.

AU - Watters, Thomas R.

AU - McClintock, William E.

AU - Blewett, David T.

AU - Gillis-Davis, Jeffrey J.

PY - 2008/7/4

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AB - The origin of plains on Mercury, whether by volcanic flooding or impact ejecta ponding, has been controversial since the Mariner 10 flybys (1974-75). High-resolution images (down to 150 meters per pixel) obtained during the first MESSENGER flyby show evidence for volcanic vents around the Caloris basin inner margin and demonstrate that plains were emplaced sequentially inside and adjacent to numerous large impact craters, to thicknesses in excess of several kilometers. Radial graben and a floor-fractured crater may indicate intrusive activity. These observations, coupled with additional evidence from color images and impact crater size-frequency distributions, support a volcanic origin for several regions of plains and substantiate the important role of volcanism in the geological history of Mercury.

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Volcanism on mercury: Evidence from the first MESSENGER flyby

Abstract

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