Distribution of large‐scale contractional tectonic landforms on Mercury: Implications for the origin of global stresses

Watters, T. R.; Selvans, M. M.; Banks, M. E.; Hauck, Steven A.; Becker, K. J.; Robinson, M. S.

doi:10.1002/2015gl063570

Cited by 32 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…In contrast, within the ICP, h varies between 0.09 and 3 km, with a median of 0.57 km. This difference in relief is consistent with previous studies (Byrne et al, ; Watters et al, ; Melosh & McKinnon, ; Watters & Nimmo, ; Strom et al, ). In the SP, ~80% of structures have h less than 0.5 km, compared with only ~40% of structures in the ICP (Figure S1 in the supporting information).…”

Section: Characterizing Fault Morphologysupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Shortening structures found in the SP are regarded as analogous to the wrinkle ridges in the lunar maria (Melosh, ) and may reflect, at least in part, loading‐induced stresses from the volcanic infill (Byrne et al, ; Melosh & McKinnon, ; Solomon & Head, ; Watters et al, ). Furthermore, the style of faulting in the SP may have been influenced by mechanical detachments within volcanic strata producing “thin‐skinned” faulting (i.e., faulting restricted mainly to the volcanic units), whereas ICP shortening structures may be “thick‐skinned” (i.e., deeper faulting that may even have penetrated to the contemporary brittle‐ductile transition) (Byrne et al, ; Watters et al, ; Watters et al, ). Together, these characteristics suggest that the total shortening strain, and in particular that due to global contraction, should be less in the SP than the ICP.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distribution of Areal Strain on Mercury: Insights Into the Interaction of Volcanism and Global Contraction

Peterson

Johnson

Byrne

et al. 2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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Shortening tectonic structures within Mercury's two largest geological units display a clear contrast in relief, length, and spatial density. The volcanic smooth plains units are deformed by smaller‐scale structures yet host more features per area than the older intercrater plains. Although faulting in the intercrater plains is dominantly attributed to global contraction, it has been unclear whether the smooth plains faults result from volcanic loading, global contraction, or both. We use estimates of fault length and displacement to calculate spatial variations of areal strain for each unit. We find that high strain concentrations within the smooth plains suggest that global contraction has contributed to deformation in these units. The observed contrast in morphology and spatial density of structures between units may primarily reflect differences in mechanical and/or structural characteristics of the lithosphere when faulting was initiated.

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Section: Characterizing Fault Morphologysupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of Areal Strain on Mercury: Insights Into the Interaction of Volcanism and Global Contraction

Peterson

Johnson

Byrne

et al. 2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…The amount of planetary radius decrease estimated from the mapped population of faults in Byrne et al [] was found to range from 3.1 to 7.1 km, with the variance a function once more of assumed fault population statistics. The work presented in Watters et al [] possessed far fewer thrust fault‐related landforms than reported by Byrne et al [] and did not provide estimates of the amount of global contraction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Limits on the brittle strength of planetary lithospheres undergoing global contraction

Klimczak

2015

JGR Planets

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The degree and depth of fracturing of the lithospheres of Mars, Mercury, and the Moon remain poorly known. It is these two properties, however, that govern the mechanical behavior of a planetary lithosphere. Considering the lithosphere as a cohesive rock mass that consists of small and large blocky, interlocked rock fragments, as opposed to an intact body or a body entirely lacking cohesion, provides insight into the effect of lithospheric fracturing on tectonic processes on these bodies. Characterization of the near‐surface lithospheric brittle strength that incorporates the degree of fracturing is necessary for a realistic assessment of the lithospheric response to global contraction resulting from interior secular cooling. Such an assessment shows that all of these bodies could have accommodated substantial amounts of global contraction prior to the formation of thrust fault‐related landforms. In fact, their lithospheres were sufficiently strong so as to experience changes in radius of as much as 2.2 ± 0.4 km (Mars), 2.1 ± 0.4 km (Mercury), and 1.4 ± 0.3 km (the Moon) prior to the onset of widespread thrust faulting. These values imply that the process of global contraction begins before any evidence of it is established in the geologic record, requiring an earlier onset, and for Mars and Mercury a faster initial strain rate, of global contraction than previously thought. Such results add a heretofore unrecognized component of planetary radial decrease with implications for timing and strain rate to studies of global contraction on Mars, Mercury, and the Moon, in particular, and to planetary bodies, in general.

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“…Fewer, but still essentially globally distributed scarp segments, are superposed by Mansurian and Calorian craters. A notable exception to the above statements regarding geographic distribution is that few lobate scarp segments are seen on Mercury's smooth plains (Figures and ), where wrinkle ridges are the dominant contractional landforms [e.g., Byrne et al , ; Watters et al , ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Duration of activity on lobate‐scarp thrust faults on Mercury

et al. 2015

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Lobate scarps, landforms interpreted as the surface manifestation of thrust faults, are widely distributed across Mercury and preserve a record of its history of crustal deformation. Their formation is primarily attributed to the accommodation of horizontal shortening of Mercury's lithosphere in response to cooling and contraction of the planet's interior. Analyses of images acquired by the Mariner 10 and MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft during flybys of Mercury showed that thrust faults were active at least as far back in time as near the end of emplacement of the largest expanses of smooth plains. However, the full temporal extent of thrust fault activity on Mercury, particularly the duration of this activity following smooth plains emplacement, remained poorly constrained. Orbital images from the MESSENGER spacecraft reveal previously unrecognized stratigraphic relations between lobate scarps and impact craters of differing ages and degradation states. Analysis of these stratigraphic relations indicates that contraction has been a widespread and long‐lived process on the surface of Mercury. Thrust fault activity had initiated by a time near the end of the late heavy bombardment of the inner solar system and continued through much or all of Mercury's subsequent history. Such deformation likely resulted from the continuing secular cooling of Mercury's interior.

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Distribution of large‐scale contractional tectonic landforms on Mercury: Implications for the origin of global stresses

Cited by 32 publications

References 42 publications

Distribution of Areal Strain on Mercury: Insights Into the Interaction of Volcanism and Global Contraction

Distribution of Areal Strain on Mercury: Insights Into the Interaction of Volcanism and Global Contraction

Limits on the brittle strength of planetary lithospheres undergoing global contraction

Duration of activity on lobate‐scarp thrust faults on Mercury

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