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Identifying Lava Flow Fronts on Mercury

Features interpreted to be lava flow fronts associated with the northern smooth plains deposits on Mercury. (Upper left) Steep flow margin within a flooded impact crater (thick arrows); narrow arrow points to possible flooding of a smaller crater. (Lower left) Smooth plains (left) embaying rough plains (right), with flow front indicated by arrows. (Right) Candidate lava flow fronts (arrows) facing each other. The western flow unit is embaying a crater (E) and flooding the hills (H) between flow fronts to form kipukas (K), islands of pre-existing terrain flooded by lava.

Date acquired: September 29, 2011

Image Credit: Courtesy AAAS/Science