Magnarini, G;
Grindrod, PM;
Mitchell, TM;
(2023)
Slope Deformation Associated with Recent Tectonism and the Lasting Effect of Local Subsurface Geometry in the Taurus‐Littrow Valley, Apollo 17 Landing Site.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
, 128
(8)
, Article e2022JE007726. 10.1029/2022je007726.
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Abstract
The South Massif and Taurus-Littrow valley represent a unique area for understanding recent geological processes on the Moon. The presence of two recent overlapping landslide deposits, and boulder falls, suggests that repetitive instability has affected the north-east facing slope of the South Massif. The presence of the young Lee-Lincoln lobate scarp associated with a thrust fault suggests that seismic shaking may have been an important factor in triggering surface changes and mass-wasting events in the area. In this work, we use the younger landslide deposit as a geomorphological marker. The age of the deposit, 70–110 Ma, is known due to the returned samples of the Apollo 17 mission, therefore allowing to set a time constraint to surface changes that have occurred since its emplacement. Here, we extend the body of evidence of slope deformation of the north-east slope of the South Massif post-dating the emplacement of the younger landslide deposit. We map boulder tracks, zones of disturbed regolith, summit and slope structures. We described their mutual relationships and their relationships with the topography and local tectonic structures. We identified features directly related to the local stress field, as well as features derived from gravitational adjustment following basal slope support removal due to reactivation of the ancient valley-bounding fault in reverse mode associated with the Lee-Lincoln thrust fault. Our interpretation favors a scenario in which recent tectonism, coupled with long-lasting influence of the subsurface geometry, has caused continuous slope deformation of the South Massif.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Slope Deformation Associated with Recent Tectonism and the Lasting Effect of Local Subsurface Geometry in the Taurus‐Littrow Valley, Apollo 17 Landing Site |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1029/2022je007726 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022je007726 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Keywords: | Slope deformation, tectonism, south massif, Taurus-Littrow valley, thrust faults, backthrust |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Earth Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10174874 |
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