Determining the ages of impact events: Multidisciplinary studies using remote sensing and sample analysis techniques

Abstract

The determination of the timing of impact events and the ages of cratered planetary surfaces is a complex and challenging undertaking. A powerful approach to this endeavor is a multidisciplinary study; understanding and using data from both rock samples and remote sensing. Shocked material (especially melt material) found in meteorites like Orvinio provides critical material dating impact craters. Orvinio, in spite of a complex degassing history shows evidence for multiple impacts at 4.2 Ga, 7.5 Ma, and possibly 330 Ma. Correlating impact histories for inner solar system bodies and the asteroid belt will constrain the genesis of impactor populations. Determining the recent cratering history of the Earth, however, is complicated by surface processes which erode and destroy impact craters. The Gardnos impact structure, for example, while possessing samples suitable for dating, has suffered substantial post-impact degassing due to metamorphism in the Caledonian orogeny ∼385 Ma. We must therefore look to the Moon to unravel the recent cratering history of the Earth-Moon system The Clementine mission data set provides an excellent resource for research into the bright rayed craters on the lunar surface. Studies of large rayed craters using the OMAT (optical maturity parameter) technique of Lucey and colleagues has revealed much information on the maturation of the crater ejecta. Profiles of OMAT values for the ejecta of large craters as a group show no evidence for an increase in the cratering rate during the Copernican era as advocated by Shoemaker. Future studies of both remote sensing and sample data will allow a better understanding of meteorite parent body impact histories and their implications for widespread epochs of increased impactor flux; the age-size correlation in lunar craters; the calibration of a large crater relative age scheme based on optical maturity with implications for the nature of the impactor flux in recent history; the nature of the recent small impactors on the lunar surface; implications for impact hazards on Earth today; and the best target sites for future landings and sample acquisition on the lunar surface.