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Normal Faults on Ceres: Insights Into the Mechanical Properties and Thermal History of Nar Sulcus
Author(s) -
Hughson Kynan H. G.,
Russell C. T.,
Schmidt B. E.,
Travis B.,
Preusker F.,
Neesemann A.,
Sizemore H. G.,
Schenk P. M.,
Buczkowski D. L.,
CastilloRogez J. C.,
Raymond C. A.
Publication year - 2019
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 - 10.1029/2018gl080258
Subject(s) - geology , sulcus , flexural strength , extensional definition , thermal , rigidity (electromagnetism) , flexural rigidity , geometry , seismology , materials science , composite material , physics , tectonics , thermodynamics , anatomy , mathematics , medicine
We characterized two sets of extensional faults that comprise the Nar Sulcus region of Ceres by applying a cantilever model for fault related flexure and derived flexural rigidity values for Nar Sulcus between 2.0 · 10 15 and 1.8 · 10 16 N·m. This range of flexural rigidity makes Nar Sulcus mechanically akin to extensional structures on Ganymede, Europa, and Enceladus. We combine these observations with an inferred strength profile for the upper mechanical layer of Ceres and estimate its thickness to be 2.9–9.5 km. Surface heat fluxes at Nar Sulcus during its formation were likely ≥10 mW/m 2 for estimated strain rates of 10 −17 –10 −14 s −1 , which is at least one order of magnitude larger than the current estimated global average. For geologically plausible heat fluxes between 10 and 100 mW/m 2 , we estimate an upper bound of ~30 vol.% mechanically silicate‐like phases in the near surface at Nar Sulcus, neglecting the effects of porosity.