Geology of Mercury By Triana Henz

Stratigraphy Terrian reconnaissance –Images of the planet Classification of images –Find cause and affect Chronostratigraphic classification –Finding major events

First Map of Mercury Trask and Guest were the first to map Mercury once the Mariner 10 images were analyze There were six things that had caught their eyes the first time they were looking at the images Other people after them help develop the stratigraphic that is used today for Mercury

Wide-spread inter-crater plains

Heavily cratered plains

Caloris basin and related deposits

Smooth Plains

Hilly and Lineated antipodal to Caloris Basin

Younger craters

Pre-Tolstoj The oldest identified terrian Occurred before 4 Gigaannum (Ga) Multiringed basin deposits Extensive intercrater plains High impact rate Crustial formation and early evolution

Tolstojan System Tolstoj basin ~ Ga Goya Formation “Archimedean” craters

Calorian System Caloris Impact and basin Wide-spread smooth plains 3.9 – 3(.5) Ga Caloris Group

Caloris Montes and Nervo

Odin

Van Eyck Formation

Mansurian System Mansur crater Other impact craters with no bright rays No evidence for regional volcanic or tectonic activities ~3(.5) – 1 Ga

Kuiperian Period ~1 Ga to present Bright-rayed crater Kuiper Deposits of impact craters with their bright rays still visible

Messenger Let us see what’s on the “dark side” The respective data that is collected will help place together the global geologic sequence together The data will help piece together the history of Mercury