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Global Geologic Mapping of Io: Preliminary ResultsA new global geologic map of Jupiter's volcanic moon, Io is being prepared, with the focus being on completion of a draft map by July 2008. Here initial results of the mapping are reported: a preliminary distribution of material units in terms of areas and a visual representation. Additionally, the mapping hopes to address some of the problems in Io geology. Thus far it has been discovered that Io's surface is dominated by plains material, thought to consist of Io's silicate crust covered by pyroclastic deposits and lava flows of silicate and sulfur-bearing composition. Many plains areas contain flow fields that cannot be mapped separately due to a lack of resolution or modification by alteration processes. Discrete lava flows and flow fields are the next most abundant unit, with bright (sulfur?) flows in greater abundance than dark (silicate?) flows. The source of most of Io's heat flow, the paterae, are the least abundant unit in terms of areal extent.Upon completion of the draft map for peer review, it will be used to investigate several specific questions about the geological evolution of Io that previously could not be well addressed, including: comparison of the areas versus the heights of Ionian mountains to assess their stability and evolution; correlation and comparison of Galileo Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer and Photopolarimeter-Radiometer hot spot locations with the mapped location of dark versus bright lava flows and patera floors to assess any variations in the types of sources for Io's active volcanism; and the creation of a global inventory of the areal coverage of dark and bright laval flows to assess the relative importance of sulfur versus silicate volcanism in resurfacing Io, and to assess whether there are regional concentrations of either style of volcanism that may have implications on interior processes.
Document ID
20080040993
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Williams, David A.
(Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ, United States)
Keszthelyi, L. P.
(Geological Survey Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Crown, D. A.
(Planetary Science Inst. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Geissler, P. E.
(Geological Survey Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Schenk, P. M.
(Lunar and Planetary Inst. Houston, TX, United States)
Yff, Jessica
(Geological Survey Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Jaeger, W. L.
(Geological Survey Flagstaff, AZ, United States)
Rathbun, J. A.
(Redlands Univ. CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
June 23, 2008
Publication Information
Publication: Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, Flagstaff, AZ, 2008
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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