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Science 4 July 2008:
Vol. 321. no. 5885, pp. 66 - 69
DOI: 10.1126/science.1160080
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Reflectance and Color Variations on Mercury: Regolith Processes and Compositional Heterogeneity

Mark S. Robinson,1* Scott L. Murchie,2 David T. Blewett,2 Deborah L. Domingue,2 S. Edward Hawkins, III,2 James W. Head,3 Gregory M. Holsclaw,4 William E. McClintock,4 Timothy J. McCoy,5 Ralph L. McNutt, Jr.,2 Louise M. Prockter,2 Sean C. Solomon,6 Thomas R. Watters7

Multispectral images of Mercury obtained by the MESSENGER spacecraft reveal that its surface has an overall relatively low reflectance with three large-scale units identified on the basis of reflectance and slope (0.4 to 1.0 micrometer). A higher-reflectance, relatively red material occurs as a distinct class of smooth plains that were likely emplaced volcanically; a lower-reflectance material with a lesser spectral slope may represent a distinct crustal component enriched in opaque minerals, possibly more common at depth. A spectrally intermediate terrain probably forms most of the upper crust. Three other spectrally distinct but spatially restricted units include fresh crater ejecta less affected by space weathering than other surface materials; high-reflectance deposits seen in some crater floors; and moderately high-reflectance, relatively reddish material associated with rimless depressions.

1 School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
2 Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA.
3 Department of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
4 Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.
5 National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560–0119, USA.
6 Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington DC, 20015, USA.
7 National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: robinson{at}ser.asu.edu

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The Evolution of Mercury's Crust: A Global Perspective from MESSENGER.
B. W. Denevi, M. S. Robinson, S. C. Solomon, S. L. Murchie, D. T. Blewett, D. L. Domingue, T. J. McCoy, C. M. Ernst, J. W. Head, T. R. Watters, et al. (2009)
Science 324, 613-618
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Evolution of the Rembrandt Impact Basin on Mercury.
T. R. Watters, J. W. Head, S. C. Solomon, M. S. Robinson, C. R. Chapman, B. W. Denevi, C. I. Fassett, S. L. Murchie, and R. G. Strom (2009)
Science 324, 618-621
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Return to Mercury: A Global Perspective on MESSENGER's First Mercury Flyby.
S. C. Solomon, R. L. McNutt Jr., T. R. Watters, D. J. Lawrence, W. C. Feldman, J. W. Head, S. M. Krimigis, S. L. Murchie, R. J. Phillips, J. A. Slavin, et al. (2008)
Science 321, 59-62
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Spectroscopic Observations of Mercury's Surface Reflectance During MESSENGER's First Mercury Flyby.
W. E. McClintock, N. R. Izenberg, G. M. Holsclaw, D. T. Blewett, D. L. Domingue, J. W. Head III, J. Helbert, T. J. McCoy, S. L. Murchie, M. S. Robinson, et al. (2008)
Science 321, 62-65
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Volcanism on Mercury: Evidence from the First MESSENGER Flyby.
J. W. Head, S. L. Murchie, L. M. Prockter, M. S. Robinson, S. C. Solomon, R. G. Strom, C. R. Chapman, T. R. Watters, W. E. McClintock, D. T. Blewett, et al. (2008)
Science 321, 69-72
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Geology of the Caloris Basin, Mercury: A View from MESSENGER.
S. L. Murchie, T. R. Watters, M. S. Robinson, J. W. Head, R. G. Strom, C. R. Chapman, S. C. Solomon, W. E. McClintock, L. M. Prockter, D. L. Domingue, et al. (2008)
Science 321, 73-76
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