IMPACT CRATERING ON ICE-RICH MATERIALS
STEWART, Sarah T.1, O'KEEFE, John D.1, and AHRENS, Thomas J.2, (1) Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, M/C 150-21, Pasadena, CA 91125, sstewart@gps.caltech.edu, (2) California Institute Technology, 1201 E California Blvd MC 252-21, Pasadena, CA 91125-0001

Impact cratering on Earth, Mars, and the icy satellites of the outer solar system is significantly affected by the presence of subsurface ice or water. The high volatility of H2O modifies the crater formation process, resulting in more vapor production, higher ejection angles, fluidized ejecta blankets, and hydrothermal fracturing beneath the crater. We have been conducting experiments and modeling of impacts into ice-rock mixtures to quantify the effects of subsurface H2O on observable crater features, such as the ejecta distribution, rampart and pedestal formation, and crater floor morphologies. Our model explains the formation of fluidized ejecta blankets on Mars as well as pedestal craters on Ganymede and Europa. Using our new understanding of cratering on icy materials and the location and morphologies of fluidized ejecta blankets on Mars, we are mapping the time-averaged volume fraction of subsurface ice on Mars.

Cordilleran Section - 97th Annual Meeting, and Pacific Section, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (April 9-11, 2001)
Session No. 35
Geology Beyond Earth: Recent Results from the Planets and Their Moons II
Sheraton Universal: Studio II
1:50 PM-4:10 PM, Tuesday, April 10, 2001