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Ceres is a partially differentiated dwarf planet located in the main asteroid belt. Consus crater (diameter ∼64 km) is one of the oldest impact features (∼450 Ma) on the Cerean surface that surprisingly still shows a large variety of color lithologies, including exposures of bright material, which are thought to be brine residues. Here, we present new results that help in understanding the structure and composition of the Cerean crust. These results were deduced by using newly processed Dawn Framing Camera (FC) color imagery and FC clear filter images combined with infrared spectral data of Dawn's Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR). Consus exhibits a variety of color lithologies, which we describe in detail. Interestingly, we found three spectrally different types of bright material exposed by a large old crater on Consus' floor. One of these, the yellowish bright material (Nathues et al., 2023, https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2023/pdf/1073.pdf) and its modification, shows spectral signatures consistent with ammonium‐enriched smectites. We hypothesize that the ammonium in these smectites stems from contact with ascending brines, originating from a low‐lying former brine ocean that has been enriched in ammonium during the differentiation and freezing process of the Cerean crust. This enrichment is mainly due to ammonium uptake by sheet silicates. If such an ammonium enrichment occurred over long‐time scales on a global scale, this process may explain the vast presence of ammonium on the Cerean surface. Therefore, an outer solar system origin of Ceres is possibly not needed to explain the global presence of ammonium. Plain Language Summary: Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt and surprisingly exhibits surface features formed by recent cryo‐volcanism, although evolution models predicted an inactive, completely frozen body. Cryo‐volcanism possibly stems from a brine layer at the crust‐mantle transition. The global presence of ammonium on the Cerean surface led to the conclusion of a potential outer solar system origin of Ceres. Here, we investigate the structure of its crust, by studying one of the older, but still mineralogical diverse, impact craters that excavated originally low‐lying materials. For our study, we are using data of the Dawn Framing Camera, spectral data of the Visible and Infrared Spectrometer as well as several geoscientific remote sensing methods. We describe "yellowish bright material" for the first time (Nathues et al., 2023, https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2023/pdf/1073.pdf), that is spectrally unique in our color data and exhibits a strong absorption feature in the near‐infrared caused by ammonium. We hypothesize that the ammonium enrichment of this surface material is mainly a consequence of an ammonium exchange between rising brines and near‐surface phyllosilicates. If true, this would strengthen the case for the existence of a low‐lying ammonium‐rich brine layer, which in turn could weaken the hypothesis of an outer solar system origin for Ceres. Key Points: The old impact crater Consus still shows a large variety of color lithologiesThe yellow bright material lithology is ammonium‐enrichedWe hypothesize that this ammonium stems from ascending originally low‐lying brines [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Craters on the lunar surface can provide valuable information about the timing and sequence of surface‐forming processes on the Moon. A commonly used method for age determination is the analysis of the crater size‐frequency distribution (CSFD) to which a production function (PF) is fitted that represents the size‐frequency distribution of the impactors. However, the commonly used PF of Neukum (1983) is valid for crater diameters between 10 m and 300 km. Neukum et al. (2001, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1035-0%5f3) revised the PF for crater diameters of 100 m–200 km. However, it is suggested to also be valid for the diameter range of 10 m–300 km as well. To assess whether we can extend a PF to craters ≤10 m in diameter, we investigated the slopes of the CSFDs of small craters formed on ejecta of young Copernican‐aged craters Giordano Bruno, Moore F, North Ray, and South Ray. A PF for smaller diameters would allow dating of young geological units, which are typically small, and would reduce the statistical error in age determinations, since smaller craters are more abundant. However, small craters are strongly influenced by geological factors, such as target properties, crater degradation, and secondary craters. For craters between 10 and 20 m we obtain a steeper CSFD slope than Neukum's proposed −3 slope (cumulative), whereas for craters ≤10 m the slope is about −3. We conclude that the PF of Neukum (1983) provides a reasonable CSFD slope for smaller craters, although it was not developed for this crater diameter range. Plain Language Summary: Since the formation of the Moon, impactors have randomly hit the lunar surface. Older areas have larger and more abundant craters compared to younger areas. This relationship allows the determination of relative ages for different surfaces. A mathematical function can be fitted to the number and size of craters. This function has a specific shape and can be used to date a surface. Frequently used functions are valid between crater diameters of 10 m and 300 km. Dating young geological units is only possible if the observed craters are ≥10 m in diameter. Therefore, an extension of these functions to crater diameters ≤10 m would be beneficial. However, small craters are strongly influenced by geological factors, such as target properties, crater degradation, and secondary craters. We consider these influences in our investigation. To compare our results with previous findings, we look more closely at the slope of the function that results from the number and size of the craters. Generally, we find that one function fits well for craters ≤10 m, even though it was not designed for this diameter range. This allows a more robust age determination because small craters are more abundant, reducing the statistical error. Key Points: We studied small craters on young ejecta blankets to evaluate if the lunar production function (PF) is viable for craters ≤10 mThe crater size‐frequency distributions (CSFDs) indicate that the PF can indeed be extended to crater diameters ≤10 mOur observed slopes of CSFDs at the studied Copernican‐aged craters are consistent with previous findings [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithosphere of the Moon has been deformed by tectonic processes for at least 4 billion years, resulting in a variety of tectonic surface features. Extensional large lunar graben formed during an early phase of net thermal expansion before 3.6 Ga. With the emplacement of mare basalts at ∼3.9–4.0 Ga, faulting and folding of the mare basalts initiated, and wrinkle ridges formed. Lunar wrinkle ridges exclusively occur within the lunar Maria and are thought to be the result of superisostatic loading by dense mare basalts. Since 3.6 Ga, the Moon is in a thermal state of net contraction, which led to the global formation of small lobate thrust faults called lobate scarps. Hence, lunar tectonism recorded changes in the global and regional stress fields and is therefore an important archive for the thermal evolution of the Moon. Here, we mapped tectonic features in the non‐mascon basin Mare Tranquillitatis and classified these features according to their respective erosional states. This classification aims to provide new insights into the timing of lunar tectonism and the associated stress fields. We found a wide time range of tectonic activity, ranging from ancient to recent (3.8 Ga to <50 Ma). Early wrinkle ridge formation seems to be closely related to subsidence and flexure. For the recent and ongoing growth of wrinkle ridges and lobate scarps, global contraction with a combination of recession stresses and diurnal tidal stresses, as well as with a combination of South Pole‐Aitken ejecta loading and true polar wander are likely. Plain Language Summary: The lithosphere of the Moon has been deformed by tectonic processes for at least 4 billion years, resulting in a variety of tectonic surface features. Simple compressional asymmetric landforms are called lobate scarps and complex compressional features, which form as a result of the combination of faulting and folding, are known as wrinkle ridges. Lunar wrinkle ridges only occur within the lunar Maria. It has been argued that their formation is linked to the subsidence of the dense mare basalts, which would have happened in the early history of the Moon. We mapped all of these features within a dark lunar region called Mare Tranquillitatis and then studied their morphology on high‐resolution images. Based on their morphology, we found a wide time range of tectonic activity, ranging from ancient to recent. Large wrinkle ridges seem to be ancient and influenced by subsidence. Smaller wrinkle ridges and lobate scarps show signs of recent activity. They likely formed recently within the last hundred million years because of the Moon's current state of global compression. Key Points: Early compressional tectonism in Tranquillitatis, in the form of wrinkle ridges, is presumably related to subsidence and basin loadingLater tectonism could reflect the evolution from a basin‐localized to a global stress field and the continued growth of ancient faultsRecent wrinkle ridge and lobate scarp formation in Tranquillitatis occurred in the last 50 Ma and is influenced by a global stress field [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceres is the largest asteroid belt object, and the Dawn spacecraft observed Ceres since 2015. Dawn observed two morphologically distinct linear features on Ceres's surface: secondary crater chains and pit chains. Pit chains provide unique insights into Ceres's interior evolution. We interpret pit chains called the Samhain Catenae as the surface expression of subsurface fractures. Using the pit chains' spacings, we estimate that the localized thickness of Ceres's fractured, outer layer is approximately ≥58 km, at least ~14 km greater than the global average. We hypothesize that extensional stresses, induced by a region of upwelling material arising from convection/diapirism, formed the Samhain Catenae. We derive characteristics for this upwelling material, which can be used as constraints in future interior modeling studies. For example, its predicted location coincides with Hanami Planum, a high-elevation region with a negative residual gravity anomaly, which may be surficial evidence for this proposed region of upwelling material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]