Absence of large shield volcanoes and calderas on the Moon:Consequence of magma transport phenomena?

Head, James W. and Wilson, Lionel (1991) Absence of large shield volcanoes and calderas on the Moon:Consequence of magma transport phenomena? Geophysical Research Letters, 18 (11). pp. 2121-2124. ISSN 0094-8276

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Abstract

Large shield volcanoes and calderas are not observed on the Moon. Theoretical assessments show that melt ascending from the mantle will stall at rheological traps or at the shallower density trap at the base of the low‐density lunar crust. Magma will then only reach the surface along dikes propagated from these deep reservoirs, and such events will be infrequent and characterized by very large‐volume eruptions. These conditions favor the formation of sinuous rules, single long flows, and widespread flow units, rather than abundant small eruptions from a central edifice. The absence of large shield volcanoes and calderas on the Moon is interpreted to be related to the fact that shallow neutral buoyancy zones and magma reservoirs are not favored on the Moon.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Geophysical Research Letters
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900
Subjects:
?? GEOPHYSICSEARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES(ALL) ??
ID Code:
134661
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
22 Jun 2019 09:16
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Sep 2023 04:29