Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Strike-slip faults identified through the Galileo SSI images reveal two distinct morphological variations—band-like and ridge-like, with the formation of both being explained by the “shell tectonics” model. However, the spatial distribution and tectonic history of both fault types is yet to be determined. Various local sources of stress can cause deformation, including convection, which has the potential to generate tensile stresses under certain conditions. Convection is thought to drive diapirism leading to the formation of chaos terrains, one of an elliptical and circular-shaped Europan surface features known as lenticulae. Secondary fractures known as tailcracks are visible at the margins of Europan strike-slip faults and can be used to determine the mode of fault propagation in terms of dilation and pure sliding motion. In order to analyze the regional history of strike-slip faults on Europa, as well as possible interactions between convection and tectonics, a survey of fault morphologies in six regions imaged by the Galileo SSI instrument was conducted, using a set of qualitative and quantitative criteria to classify a fault as either band-like or ridge-like, in order to determine if local sources of stress such as convection are responsible for stresses that would affect fault morphology distribution in each region. Mapped faults in a total of eight regions and subregions found there to be no strong regional control on strike-slip fault morphology propagation, though an analysis with the measured extent of convective lenticulae features in a region determined that there is a reasonable correlation between the presence of ridge-like, mostly pure-shear strike-slip faults and the presence of lenticulae.

Date Awarded

2016

Department

Geology

Advisor 1

Christopher M. Bailey

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