Source(s) of the Smooth Caloris Exterior Plains on Mercury: Mapping, Remote Analyses, and Scenarios for Future Testing with BepiColombo Data.
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| Title: | Source(s) of the Smooth Caloris Exterior Plains on Mercury: Mapping, Remote Analyses, and Scenarios for Future Testing with BepiColombo Data. |
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| Authors: | Golder, Keenan B.1 (AUTHOR) golderk@roanestate.edu, Thomson, Bradley J.2 (AUTHOR), Ostrach, Lillian R.3 (AUTHOR), Burr, Devon M.4 (AUTHOR), Emery, Joshua P.5 (AUTHOR), Hiesinger, Harald6 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Remote Sensing. Jan2026, Vol. 18 Issue 1, p19. 27p. |
| Subjects: | Mercury (Planet), Volcanism, Spectrum analysis, Impact craters, Plains, Geological mapping, Meteorite craters |
| Abstract: | Highlights: What are the main findings? Using geologic mapping, spectral data, and crater counting techniques, we identify two distinct plains units northwest of the Caloris impact basin on Mercury. The results are more consistent with a volcanic origin, but a contribution from impact processes cannot be ruled out. What is the implication of the main finding? The findings are consistent with prior work indicating widespread resurfacing of mercurian plains units. The upcoming BepiColombo mission may be able to help address outstanding questions about the origin of these plains units. Mercury hosts widespread smooth plains that are concentrated in the Caloris impact basin, in an annulus surrounding the Caloris basin, and in the adjacent northern smooth plains. The origins of these smooth plains are uncertain, although prior work suggests these plains in the northwestern Caloris annulus might reflect volcanic activity, impact ejecta, or a combination of the two. Deciphering the timing and mode of emplacement of these plains would provide a critical constraint on regional late-stage volcanism or impact effects. In this work, the region northwest of Caloris was investigated using geomorphological and color-based mapping, crater counting techniques, and spectral analyses with the goal of placing constraints on the source of the observed units and identifying the primary emplacement mechanism. Mapping and spectral analyses confirm previous findings of two distinct, yet intermingled, units within these plains, each with similar crater count model ages that postdate the formation of the Caloris impact basin. Mapping, spectra analysis, ages, and the identification of potential flow pathways are more consistent with a predominantly volcanic origin for the smooth plains materials, although these data do not rule out contributions from impact ejecta or impact melt. We propose several hypothetical scenarios, including post-emplacement modification by near-surface volatiles, to explain these observations and clarify the emplacement mechanism for these specific smooth plains regions. Further observations from the BepiColombo mission should provide data to potentially address the outstanding questions from this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 190787239 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Source(s) of the Smooth Caloris Exterior Plains on Mercury: Mapping, Remote Analyses, and Scenarios for Future Testing with BepiColombo Data. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Golder%2C+Keenan+B%2E%22">Golder, Keenan B.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> golderk@roanestate.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Thomson%2C+Bradley+J%2E%22">Thomson, Bradley J.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ostrach%2C+Lillian+R%2E%22">Ostrach, Lillian R.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burr%2C+Devon+M%2E%22">Burr, Devon M.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emery%2C+Joshua+P%2E%22">Emery, Joshua P.</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hiesinger%2C+Harald%22">Hiesinger, Harald</searchLink><relatesTo>6</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 18 Issue 1, p19. 27p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mercury+%28Planet%29%22">Mercury (Planet)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Volcanism%22">Volcanism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spectrum+analysis%22">Spectrum analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Impact+craters%22">Impact craters</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plains%22">Plains</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geological+mapping%22">Geological mapping</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Meteorite+craters%22">Meteorite craters</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Highlights: What are the main findings? Using geologic mapping, spectral data, and crater counting techniques, we identify two distinct plains units northwest of the Caloris impact basin on Mercury. The results are more consistent with a volcanic origin, but a contribution from impact processes cannot be ruled out. What is the implication of the main finding? The findings are consistent with prior work indicating widespread resurfacing of mercurian plains units. The upcoming BepiColombo mission may be able to help address outstanding questions about the origin of these plains units. Mercury hosts widespread smooth plains that are concentrated in the Caloris impact basin, in an annulus surrounding the Caloris basin, and in the adjacent northern smooth plains. The origins of these smooth plains are uncertain, although prior work suggests these plains in the northwestern Caloris annulus might reflect volcanic activity, impact ejecta, or a combination of the two. Deciphering the timing and mode of emplacement of these plains would provide a critical constraint on regional late-stage volcanism or impact effects. In this work, the region northwest of Caloris was investigated using geomorphological and color-based mapping, crater counting techniques, and spectral analyses with the goal of placing constraints on the source of the observed units and identifying the primary emplacement mechanism. Mapping and spectral analyses confirm previous findings of two distinct, yet intermingled, units within these plains, each with similar crater count model ages that postdate the formation of the Caloris impact basin. Mapping, spectra analysis, ages, and the identification of potential flow pathways are more consistent with a predominantly volcanic origin for the smooth plains materials, although these data do not rule out contributions from impact ejecta or impact melt. We propose several hypothetical scenarios, including post-emplacement modification by near-surface volatiles, to explain these observations and clarify the emplacement mechanism for these specific smooth plains regions. Further observations from the BepiColombo mission should provide data to potentially address the outstanding questions from this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=190787239 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/rs18010019 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 27 StartPage: 19 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Mercury (Planet) Type: general – SubjectFull: Volcanism Type: general – SubjectFull: Spectrum analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: Impact craters Type: general – SubjectFull: Plains Type: general – SubjectFull: Geological mapping Type: general – SubjectFull: Meteorite craters Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Source(s) of the Smooth Caloris Exterior Plains on Mercury: Mapping, Remote Analyses, and Scenarios for Future Testing with BepiColombo Data. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Golder, Keenan B. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Thomson, Bradley J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ostrach, Lillian R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Burr, Devon M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Emery, Joshua P. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hiesinger, Harald IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Text: Jan2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20724292 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 18 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Remote Sensing Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
