September 9, 2008
Fractured, but Unmoved?
image by Paolo Lazzarotti
We think that elevated crater and basin rims result from two processes - a rebound/uplift around the excavated hole and fallback of ejecta. For the large Imbrium Basin there appears to also have been lateral movement of slivers of the rim. This is suggested by the multitude of roughly radial linear features that cut the Apennine, Caucasus and Alps mountains. The Alpine Valley is the most conspicuous lineation but it doesn't provide compelling evidence for lateral movement. Neither does the line of mountains paralleling the Valley about 40 km to its north, but it is another clear lineation. If the rim and crust didn't move laterally here it certainly must have fractured and some process raised the line of mountains. Unlike other basin rims, the eastern rim of Imbrium broke into many elongated slabs - some moved radially away and other didn't. Why the breaks and why the inconstant movement?
Chuck Wood
Technical Details
see image
Related Links
Rükl plates 3 & 12
Paolo's website
Full resolution version
Yesterday's LPOD: A Bigger, Older Clavius?
Tomorrow's LPOD: Confirmed!
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