Dating very young planetary surfaces from crater statistics: A review of issues and challenges |
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| Authors: | Jean-Pierre Williams Carolyn H. van der Bogert Asmin V. Pathare Gregory G. Michael Michelle R. Kirchoff Harald Hiesinger |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095 USA;2. Institut für Planetologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 10, 48149 Münster, Germany;3. Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona, 85719 USA;4. Planetary Sciences and Remote Sensing, Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Malteser Strasse 74-100, Haus D, Berlin, 12249 Germany;5. Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 300, Boulder, Colorado, 80502 USA |
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| Abstract: | Determining the ages of young planetary surfaces relies on using populations of small, often sub-km diameter impact craters due to the higher frequency at which they form. Smaller craters however can be less reliable for estimating ages as their size-frequency distribution is more susceptible to alteration with debate as to whether they should be used at all. With the current plethora of meter-scale resolution images acquired of the lunar and Martian surfaces, small craters have been widely used to derive model ages to establish the temporal relation of recent geologic events. In this review paper, we discuss the many factors that make smaller craters particularly challenging to use and should be taken into consideration when crater counts are confined to small crater diameters. Establishing confidence in a model age ultimately requires an understanding of the geologic context of the surface being dated as reliability can vary considerably and limitations of the dating technique should be considered in applying ages to any geologic interpretation. |
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