Definition
Drying-induced fractures in a geologic material aligned in a polygonal pattern.
Synonyms
Mud crack polygon; Polygonal shrinkage crack; Sun-crack polygon
A type of patterned ground.
A type of shrinkage crack polygons.
Polygon types proposed to form by desiccation: crater floor polygons.
Description
Polygonal pattern outlined by a network of desiccation cracks or fissures developed in fine-grained soil material (El Maarry et al. 2012). They typically intersect at right angles, exhibiting T-junctions (Weinberger 1999*). Their morphology can be 4, 3, 5, and 6 sided (in the order of decreasing abundance); they can be oriented or arcuate (Picard and High 1973, pp. 105–110). Mud shrinkage cracks often have curled rims (Kargel 2004, p. 271) or mud curls formed by peeling (Style et al. 2011). Their morphology is similar to that of thermal contraction crack polygons.
Morphometry
On Earth, desiccation polygons can span different sizes ranging from centimeters, while usually <2 m across...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Ehlmann BL, Mustard JF, Fassett CI, Schon SC, Head JW III, Des Marais DJ, Grant JA, Murchie SL (2008) Clay minerals in delta deposits and organic preservation potential on Mars. Nat Geosci 1:355–358
El Maarry MR, Markiewicz J, Meon MT, Goetz W, Dohm JM, Pack A (2010) Crater floor polygons: desiccation patterns of ancient lakes on Mars? J Geophys Res 115(E10), CiteID E10006
El Maarry MR, Kodikara J, Wijessoriya S, Markiewicz WJ, Thomas N (2012) Desiccation mechanism for formation of giant polygons on Earth and intermediate-sized polygons on Mars: results from a pre-fracture model. Earth Planet Sci Lett 323–324:19–26. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2012.01.016
Hargitai (2008) MDRS Expedition Giude, Geography Final Report of MDRS Crews 42 and 71 (HungaroMars2008) http://planetologia.elte.hu/mdrs-geo-low.pdf
Kargel JS (2004) Mars: a warmer, wetter planet. Springer, London
Neal JT, Langer AM, Kerr PF (1968) Giant desiccation polygons of great basin playas. Geo Soc Am Bull 79:69–90
Osterloo MM, Anderson FS, Hamilton VE, and Hynek BM (2010) Geologic context of proposed chloride-bearing materials on Mars. J Geophys Res 115:E10012. doi:10.1029/2010JE003613 DOI:10.1029/2010JE003613#Link to external resource: 10.1029/2010JE003613
Picard MD, High LR Jr (1973) Sedimentary structures of ephemeral streams. Elsevier, Amsterdam/New York
Style RW, Peppin SSL, Cocks ACF (2011) Mud peeling and horizontal crack formation in drying clays. J Geophys Res 116:F01025. doi:10.1029/2010JF001842
Watters WA, Squyres SW (2012) Pattern and distribution of shrinkage fractures at meridiani planum. 43rd lunar and planetary science conference, abstract #2915
Weinberger R (1999) Initiation and growth of cracks during desiccation of stratified muddy sediments. J Struct Geol 21:379–386
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
El-Maarry, M.R. (2014). Desiccation Crack Polygon. In: Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_111-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_111-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-9213-9
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences