Abstract
The distribution analysis of the ganymedean pedestal craters shows a very good correlation between them and the grooved terrains. These craters seem to be the earliest post-grooved impacts. The presence of ‘tectonized’ pedestal craters is also noted. This type of crater is the only one lying on the grooved terrains and being affected by the grooves. Assuming that a lowering of the terrain's viscosity is the determining factor for the presence of pedestal craters, we conclude that at the time of their formation, the grooved terrains have a lower viscosity than the other terrains. Moreover, using the density ratio between non-pedestal craters and pedestal craters, a relative low viscosity state's duration time is calculated. Based on the density ratio between pedestal craters and tectonized pedestal craters, a grooved terrains formation's time is also calculated. These two times are of the order of 107 yr and 106 yr respectively. This period of low viscosity may be partly due to internal heating.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Carr, M. H., Crumpler, L. S., Cutts, J. A., Greeley, R., Guest, J. E., and Masursky, H.: 1977, J. Geophys. Res. 82, 4055.
Casacchia, R. and Strom, R. G.: 1984, J. Geophys. Res. 89, B419.
Croft, S. K.: 1983, J. Geophys. Res. 88 B71.
Fink, J. H., Greeley, R., and Gault, D. E.: 1981, Proc. 12th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., pp. 1649–1666.
Fink, J. H., Gault, D. E., and Greeley, R.: 1984, J. Geophys. Res. 89, 417.
Friedson, A. J. and Stevenson, D. J.: 1983, Icarus 56, 1.
Gault, D. E. and Greeley, R.: 1978, Icarus 34, 486.
Greeley, R., Fink, J. H., Gault, D. E., Snuder, D. B., Guest, J. E., and Schultz, P. H.: 1980, Proc. 11th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., pp. 2075–2097.
Greeley, R., Fink, J. H., Gault, D. E., and Guest, J. E.: 1982, D. Morrison (ed.), in The Satellites of Jupiter, pp. 340–378. University of Arizona Press. Tucson.
Horner, V. H. and Greeley, R.: 1982, Icarus 51, 549.
Lucchitta, B. K.: 1980, Icarus 44, 481.
Mougins-Mark, P. J.: 1979, J. Geophys. Res. 84, 8011.
Passey, Q. R. and Shoemaker, E. M.: 1982, D. Morrison (ed.), in The Satellites of Jupiter, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp. 379–434.
Schubert, G., Stevenson, D. J., and Ellsworth, K.: 1981, Icarus 47, 46.
Schultz, P. H. and Gault, D. E.: 1979, J. Geophys. Res. 84, 7669.
Shoemaker, E. M. and Wolfe, R. F.: 1982, D. Morrison (ed.), in The Satellites of Jupiter, University of Arizona Press, Tuckson, pp. 277–335.
Smith, B. A. and the Voyager Imaging Team: 1979, Science 204 951.
Strom, R. G., Woronow, A., and Gurnis, M.: 1981, J. Geophys. Res. 86, 8659.
Thomas, P. G. and Masson, Ph.: 1985, submitted to Earth, Moon, and Planets.
Thurber, C. H., Hsui, A. T., and Toksöz, M. N.: 1980, Proc. 11th Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., pp. 1957–1977.
U.S.G.S.: 1979, Map I-1242. Preliminary map of Ganymede, Reston, Va.
Zuber, M. T. and Parmentier, E. M.: 1984, J. Geophys. Res. 89, B429.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Forni, O., Thomas, P.G. & Masson, P. Ganymedean pedestal craters distribution: Implications on thermal and tectonic histories. Earth Moon Planet 34, 177–188 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055134
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055134