Compression and extension tectonics on the moon
Our Moon was formed through a massive collision with a Mars-sized protoplanet. In the aftermath of its formation, the Moon was largely molten and has been slowly cooling ever since. As it contracts, its volume decreases, leading to tectonic deformations on its surface. This process is particularly visible through the formation of thrust faults, known as lobate scarps – some of the Moon’s youngest geological structures.
In his master’s thesis, Thomas Früh studied small, meter-sized graben that appear on these lobate scarps. By comparing them to similar structures in Australia and Africa, he helped identify potential formation mechanisms. The work was carried out on his own initiative and in collaboration with the Institute of Geology & Palaeontology and the Institute of Planetology. It has now been published in the international journal Icarus.
"Small graben on large thrust faults indicate that tectonic activity on the Moon is ongoing. This is an important clue that other moons and planets could still be geologically active as well," Frueh explains.
