Variations in the abundances of potassium and thorium on the surface of Mercury: Results from the MESSENGER Gamma-Ray Spectrometer
dc.contributor.author | Peplowski, Patrick N. | |
dc.contributor.author | Lawrence, David J. | |
dc.contributor.author | Rhodes, Edgar A. | |
dc.contributor.author | Sprague, Ann L. | |
dc.contributor.author | McCoy, Timothy J. | |
dc.contributor.author | Denevi, Brett W. | |
dc.contributor.author | Evans, Larry G. | |
dc.contributor.author | Head, James W. | |
dc.contributor.author | Nittler, Larry R. | |
dc.contributor.author | Solomon, Sean C. | |
dc.contributor.author | Stockstill-Cahill, Karen R. | |
dc.contributor.author | Weider, Shoshana Z. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-04-22T18:26:17Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-04-22T18:26:17Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2012 | |
dc.description.abstract | A technique for converting gamma-ray count rates measured by the Gamma-Ray Spectrometer on the MESSENGER spacecraft to spatially resolved maps of the gamma-ray emission from the surface of Mercury is utilized to map the surface distributions of the elements Si, O, and K over the planet's northern hemisphere. Conversion of the K gamma-ray count rates to elemental abundances on the surface reveals variations from 300 to 2400 ppm. A comparison of these abundances with models for the maximum surface temperature suggests the possibility that a temperature-related process is controlling the K abundances on the surface as well as providing K to the exosphere. The abundances of K and Th have been determined for several geologically distinct regions, including Mercury's northern smooth plains and the plains interior to the Caloris basin. The lack of a significant variation in the measured Th abundances suggests that there may be considerable variability in the K/Th abundance ratio over the mapped regions. | |
dc.identifier | 2169-9097 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Peplowski, Patrick N., Lawrence, David J., Rhodes, Edgar A., Sprague, Ann L., McCoy, Timothy J., Denevi, Brett W., Evans, Larry G., Head, James W., Nittler, Larry R., Solomon, Sean C., Stockstill-Cahill, Karen R., and Weider, Shoshana Z. 2012. "<a href="https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/20547">Variations in the abundances of potassium and thorium on the surface of Mercury: Results from the MESSENGER Gamma-Ray Spectrometer</a>." <em>Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets</em>, 117. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JE004141">https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JE004141</a>. | |
dc.identifier.issn | 2169-9097 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10088/20547 | |
dc.publisher | American Geophysical Union | |
dc.relation.ispartof | Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets 117 | |
dc.title | Variations in the abundances of potassium and thorium on the surface of Mercury: Results from the MESSENGER Gamma-Ray Spectrometer | |
dc.type | article | |
sro.description.unit | NMNH | |
sro.description.unit | NH-Mineral Sciences | |
sro.identifier.doi | 10.1029/2012JE004141 | |
sro.identifier.itemID | 113713 | |
sro.identifier.refworksID | 69027 | |
sro.identifier.url | https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/20547 | |
sro.publicationPlace | Washington; 2000 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA |
Files
Original bundle
1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
- Name:
- min_Peplowski_et_al_2012_J_Geophys.Res.117_E00L04_27pp.pdf
- Size:
- 4.19 MB
- Format:
- Adobe Portable Document Format