Geological Map Of The Debussy Quadrangle of The Planet Mercury

Geological mapping of Mercury is crucial to build an understanding of the history of the planet and to set the context for observations made by the recently launched BepiColombo mission when it begins science operations in orbit around Mercury in 2026. I am mapping the geology of the Debussy quadrangle (approximately 1/15th of the planet) as part of a pan-Europe program to map the entire planet at a scale of 1:3M using data from NASA’s MESSENGER mission. This will be the first high-resolution map of this part of Mercury. The mapped area includes the Rembrandt impact basin, the second largest on the planet, Enterprise Rupees, the longest tectonic fault as well as several explosive volcanic vents and terrains of different ages. Mapping began in October 2017 using ArcGIS software. The mapping follows the EU Plan map standards and USGS guidelines with linework drawn at 1:300k. Craters larger than 5 km have been outlined. Ejecta, where observed, is being traced for craters larger than 20 km and classified. Craters are classified based on crater degradation using both 3 class and 5 class schemes to enable comparison between historical and current maps of the rest of the planet and to enable placing features and units into context. A separate mapping layer for superficial shows the most recent modifications to Mercury’s surface, including volcanic deposits and impact craters. I present the map and with working geological interpretation.