Physical models of grooved terrain tectonics on Ganymede. Issue 11 (13th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sims, Darrell W.; Wyrick, Danielle Y.; Ferrill, David A.; Morris, Alan P.; Collins, Geoffrey C.; Pappalardo, Robert T.; Colton, Shannon L.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 41:Issue 11(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 3774
• Page End: 3778
• Publication Date: 2014-06-13
• Subjects: Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2014GL060359
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Grooved terrain on Ganymede consists of distinct areas of parallel to subparallel ridges and troughs at a variety of spatial scales. Grooved terrain has been interpreted as the product of tectonism in the form of fault‐accommodated distributed lithospheric extension. We use physical analog methods to test the formation of grooved terrain by imbricate normal faulting in response to distributed extension. Faults and fault systems produced in the models are geometrically and kinematically similar to patterns inferred for some grooved terrains on Ganymede. The high degree of similarity between model structures and those observed on Ganymede indicates that rotational half‐graben brittle block faulting can explain at least some tectonic resurfacing on Ganymede and that 20% extension is sufficient to form structures analogous to grooved terrain.</p> </abstract>