Asymmetric Magnetic Anomalies Over Young Impact Craters on Mercury

V. Galluzzi, J. S. Oliveira, J. Wright, D. A. Rothery, L. L. Hood

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Mercury's crustal magnetic field map includes anomalies that are related to impact craters. Mercury's surface has a low iron abundance, but it is likely that some impactors brought magnetic carriers able to register the planet's magnetic field that was present during impact. Anomalies associated with the relatively young Rustaveli and Stieglitz craters are asymmetric with respect to the crater center. We analyze the location of the magnetic anomalies and the impact crater morphologies to understand whether there is any correlation. We investigate the geological framework of these two craters to constrain the overall impact dynamics. In both cases, magnetic anomalies correlate well with the location of impact melt and the inferred impact direction. Both impact angles were probably 40°–45°, with preferential distribution of the melt downrange. Inversion dipoles suggest that the impact melt located downrange encompasses some magnetized material, which is hence likely responsible for the detected magnetic anomalies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2020GL091767
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume48
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 16 2021

Keywords

  • Geological Maps
  • Impact Craters
  • Impact Dynamics
  • Magnetic Anomalies
  • Mercury (planet)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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