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Evidence for the Interior Evolution of Ceres from Geologic Analysis of Fractures
Author(s) -
Scully J. E. C.,
Buczkowski D. L.,
Schmedemann N.,
Raymond C. A.,
CastilloRogez J. C.,
King S. D.,
Bland M. T.,
Ermakov A. I.,
O'Brien D. P.,
Marchi S.,
Longobardo A.,
Russell C. T.,
Fu R. R.,
Neveu M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl075086
Subject(s) - geology , upwelling , impact crater , diapir , gravity anomaly , convection , geophysics , astrobiology , paleontology , tectonics , oceanography , meteorology , oil field , physics
Ceres is the largest asteroid belt object, and the Dawn spacecraft observed Ceres since 2015. Dawn observed two morphologically distinct linear features on Ceres's surface: secondary crater chains and pit chains. Pit chains provide unique insights into Ceres's interior evolution. We interpret pit chains called the Samhain Catenae as the surface expression of subsurface fractures. Using the pit chains' spacings, we estimate that the localized thickness of Ceres's fractured, outer layer is approximately ≥58 km, at least ~14 km greater than the global average. We hypothesize that extensional stresses, induced by a region of upwelling material arising from convection/diapirism, formed the Samhain Catenae. We derive characteristics for this upwelling material, which can be used as constraints in future interior modeling studies. For example, its predicted location coincides with Hanami Planum, a high‐elevation region with a negative residual gravity anomaly, which may be surficial evidence for this proposed region of upwelling material.