title: The evolution of Mercury's crust: a global perspective from MESSENGER.
abstract: Mapping the distribution and extent of major terrain types on a planet's surface helps to constrain the origin and evolution of its crust. Together, MESSENGER and Mariner 10 observations of Mercury now provide a near-global look at the planet, revealing lateral and vertical heterogeneities in the color and thus composition of Mercury's crust. Smooth plains cover approximately 40% of the surface, and evidence for the volcanic origin of large expanses of plains suggests that a substantial portion of the crust originated volcanically. A low-reflectance, relatively blue component affects at least 15% of the surface and is concentrated in crater and basin ejecta. Its spectral characteristics and likely origin at depth are consistent with its apparent excavation from a lower crust or upper mantle enriched in iron- and titanium-bearing oxides.
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85251, USA. bdenevi@ser.asu.edu
authors.forename: Brett W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Denevi
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Sean C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Murchie
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Blewett
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Domingue
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Watters
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Chabot