0

5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Number of craters per 10 6 km 2
Crater diameter >30 km
Crater diameter >20 km
br, bs, bi li1, li2, li3 lg1, lg2, lg3 ls1, ls2, ls3 r dl dc p1, p2, pu, pi
Figure 4. Graph showing number of craters
per million square kilometers on each
group of material units. Units are grouped
for better statistics; many individual
material units cover too small an area to
use large craters to determine age
relations. On the shaded bottom portion of
the graph, error bars are shown for crater
counts using only the craters shown on
the map, which are all larger than 30 km
diameter. The data shows that dark
cratered material is clearly older than all
other materials, but the other materials are
difficult to separate in age by crater
density. The unshaded upper portion of the
graph shows the same results, but
including craters larger than 20 km
diameter. Due to the geographic mismatch
between the distribution of material units
and the distribution of high-resolution
images, there may be some systematic
errors in the 20-km data. See Patterson
and others (2010) for further discussion.
Figure 3. Top, Image showing the
boundary between Nicholson Regio
(left) and Harpagia Sulcus (right), the
type example of the transition from
dark to light materials. Numerous
faulted blocks mark the transition in
the center, which is observed as a
deep groove on the global image
mosaic. Galileo observation
28GSBRTDRK01, located near lat 9 S.,
long 39 E.; north is to the top of the
image; and illumination is from the left
side of the image. Bottom, Map of
corresponding geological units at the
Nicholson-Harpagia boundary. The
dark cratered material (dc) of Nichol-
son Regio is crosscut and resurfaced
by dark lineated material (dl) and
intermediate light subdued material
(ls2) in Harpagia Sulcus. The outcrop
of dark lineated material shown on this
image is too small to be included in the
global map.
ls2 dl
dc
Figure 2. Map showing emission angle of source images included in the base mosaic used for mapping Ganymede. Warm tones (red and
orange) show areas with near-nadir viewing angles, cool tones (blue and green) show areas viewed obliquely near the limb.
0 10
10 20

30 40
40 50

20 30

50 60
60 70
70 80

80 90
Emission angle
(degrees)
90S
45S
0
45N
90N
0 180 135W 90W 45W 45E 90E 135E 180
Figure 1. Map showing resolution of source images included in the base mosaic used for mapping Ganymede. Warm tones (red and
orange) show areas covered by higher resolution images, cool tones (blue and green) show areas covered by lower resolution images.
0.5 1
1 1.5

2 2.5
2.5 3

1.5 2

> 3
Image resoluton
(km/pixels)
90S
45S
0
45N
90N
0 180 135W 90W 45W 45E 90E 135E 180
lg1 c1 c2 c1 c2 d
cu lg3 li1
c1 d
ls ls1
l
ls2 ls3
d br
d c2 lg3
ls1
c1
ls2
cu
l ls1
li2
lg3
ls1
c3 c3
li1
c3 d
li2
bs
lg2
d
lg3
l
c1
ls2
d
cu
lg1
ls1
ls3
c1
l
c1
li1
c3 cu
ls3 ls3
cu
ls1 lg2
ls2
ls1
lg2 lg1
c3
lg2
l
l
lg2
lg3
li2
d
ls2
c1
ls3
ls1
lg3
c2
dc
lg2 lg1
l
c1 lg2 li1 lg3 ls2
ls1
lg1
lg3
d cu c2 c1
ls2
l
ls2
li1
c1
l
li1 ls3
lg3 li1
cu
l
dc d lg2
ls3
lg3
c1
ls2
lg2
ls2 ls2
c1
c2
lg3
l
d
ls1
ls3
ls2
c2
lg1 cu
lg3
dc
d
d
c1
l
pu
lg1
ls1 dl
cu r
l
li2
c1 c1 ls3
ls1 l
c1
l
r
ls2
l
lg2
l lg1
d
lg3
ls3
d cu
c3
lg2
li1
c2 d
lg3
c3 lg2
ls2
ls1
l
lg3
c3
c2
c1
ls3
cu
li1 ls1
lg3
ls1
lg2
l
c3
lg3 pu
ls1
c1
ls2
c3
l
lg2
li1 lg1 ls1
c1
d
c2 ls2
dc
c2 lg2 c1 lg3
lg3
c2
ls3
lg3
l
li1
c1
c2
l
li1 d
ls1
p1
c1
d
c2
ls1 ls1
lg3
c3 c1 lg3
lg3
ls1
li1
ls3
ls1 r l li1 lg1
ls2
c2
p1 d
lg1
li2
c1
ls1
li2 c3 c1 r
lg3 c3
d
li1 c1
ls1
ls1
li1
ls2
ls3
c2
li2 c3
ls1 lg1
dc
ls2
li2
c2
lg1 lg2
lg3
ls1
lg3
d
c1 c1 li1
lg3
d ls1
1
l
c1
lg2
lg3
li1 c3 dc
l
ls3
lg1
lg3
ls3
li1
lg1
ls2
ls2
pi c2
ls2
dc r
c1 dc
c1
lg2
lg2
dc lg3
lg3
lg1
lg2
p1 li1 c3 lg2
ls2
c3
ls2 dc li1 c1
c3 ls1
ls1
c2
c2
ls2
lg2 dl
c1
ls3
c2
ls1
lg2
ls3
li2
li2 li1
li1 c3
dl
lg2 lg1
li2
lg3
ls2
c2
ls1
lg2
d
ls2
d
c3
lg3
li1
ls2
cu
lg1
li2
cu
ls1
d
dc lg1
r
lg3 dl lg2
lg3
lg2
dl
li2 dl r
r
r li2
ls3
lg2
l li2
ls3 dl
ls2
c3
p1
c1 c1
lg2 c1 c3 l
c1
dc
c2
c2
lg2
li1
ls1
lg2
dl
li1
ls1
r d
lg3
lg2
ls1
p1
dl
lg2
cu ls1 c2 lg3
ls1
r
p1
ls3 c1 ls2
c1
ls2 dl
lg1
ls1
l
dl
lg2
li2
ls1
d
li2
lg2
c3
dc
lg3
lg3
lg3 pu
c3
lg2
l c2 lg3
dl
c2 ls3
d
lg1
d
ls1
dl
d
ls1
lg3
dl dc
dc l
lg3
ls3
ls3
c1 p2
r
lg3
l
ls2
c2
li3
d
lg3
c1
c3
li1 ls3
l
c1
ls1
lg2
ls3
lg1
c2
lg3 ls1
lg3
dl
d lg1
c1
ls1
ls2
c1
d
c2
ls2
d
c1 c2 lg1 c3
dc
cu
ls2
c2
lg2
dc ls3
ls3
dl
ls2 dc
c1 cu
c1
c1
c1
l
c2
lg2 c2 lg1
l
pi ls1 lg2
c3
c2
c3
dl lg3
pu
ls1
ls3
c2 c3
ls2
ls2
c3
cu
d c1
dc
li3
lg1 dl
c3
lg2
lg2
lg2
c1
c1
lg2
li3 l dl
dc
p1
dc
lg2
lg3
c1
c3
lg3 lg1
c1 c2
ls2
ls2
li1 ls1
c2 ls2
lg3
lg2
d dl
ls3 lg3
ls1
c1
d
lg1
lg1
ls3
d
lg1
lg2
li3 li1
lg1 l
dc
li1 lg1
li1
ls2
ls3
lg1
ls1
d
lg2
c1
lg2
lg2
c2
dc lg2
c2 ls3 lg2
lg2
dl
li2
c1
lg3
d
lg3
c2
c2
dc
ls1 lg3 ls2 ls1 lg3
ls1
ls3
c3
p1
p1
c2 p1 pu
l
cu
lg2
c2
c2 c2
c2
ls2
lg3
c1
dl
lg1 d
lg1 d
lg2
dl
ls1
dl
c2
c2
c1 ls2 c1
l
c3
c3
c1
l
dc
c1 l
ls2
lg2
c3
ls2
c1
ls2
c1
ls3
c1
dl
dl
c3 lg2
c1 lg2
c3
d
d
li1 lg3
ls2 lg3
c1 c3
li1 lg3
li1 li1
lg2
dc
ls2
dc
l
ls1
d c2
lg3
lg3
c2 c3
ls2
lg3
ls3
li2
ls1 ls1
lg3 li2
dc
li3
d
ls3
d c1
l
c2
ls3 c2 lg2
li1 dl
c1
ls2
c1
lg3
lg3 lg1
ls2
l
c2
ls2
c2
ls2
lg3
lg3
ls2 ls2
p1 c3
c2
c1
d l
d d
c2
ls2
ls2
lg1
c3 c1
dl
cu
dc
ls3
d ls1
ls3
c1 c1 ls2
lg2
dl
ls1
c1
ls1
lg3 c1
li2 li1
lg2
c2 c1
ls1
c1 c1
ls2
c1
lg3
c2
li2
dc
lg3
c2
lg2 pi
c1
c1 ls2 ls2 lg2 dc
c3
dl
p1
ls3
l li2 li1 lg2 ls2 li1 p1
c2 dl
ls1
c2
c2
d
c1
lg1 d
c3
ls3
p1
l d
li1
dl
c3
c2
lg2
lg1 c1 lg3
l
c1
dl
pu
ls3
ls2
lg2
lg3
c1
ls1
ls1
ls3
c3
cu
lg2
li1 c2 ls1
ls1 ls2
c2
lg3 dc
c1
ls1
c1 c1 c2
dc
ls1 d
d
d
c1
c2
p1
dc
c1
lg2 d
ls2
li2
c3 lg3
l
ls2
li1
c3
ls1
cu
ls1 ls2 ls2 l
l
ls3
pi ls2 lg1
c2
lg3
li2
l
li2 lg2
c1
c1
c2 c2
li1
lg1
cu
ls3
d c3
c3
d ls1
c1
li1
ls3
lg2
ls1 c1 c1 c2 ls2
d
lg1 c1
c3 c2
li2
lg2 cu ls1 dl
c1
ls3
lg2
pu
lg1
c2
d
pi
pi
ls3
d c3
c2
ls2
pu d c3 d
dl
c1
ls2 lg2 c2
lg1
lg1
li3
l
ls3 l
pu
c1
l
lg3
lg2 l
p1
lg1
c1
pu
lg2 cu
pi
c2
ls1
c1
lg3
ls1
c1
ls2
c3 dl d ls1
c1
d
c3
dc
c2
li2
l
d
d
li3
c2
l
li2
c1 lg2 c2 c1
d
c1
ls3
lg3
ls2
ls1 lg2 l
c2
c1 ls2 c1
c2
li2
c2 c1
ls2
pi
ls1
lg1
pi c1
d
d dc c1
lg1
c1
ls
ls3
lg3 pu p1
li2
dc
c1
l
c2
ls1
dc
c1
dc
d c2
li2
lg2
p1
lg2 ls1
ls3
lg3
ls2
p2
p2 dc
dc
pu li2
lg3
dc
li2
c2
l
lg3
d
ls3
l
c3
c2
li2
ls2
c1 c2
lg2 ls1
lg2
d c3 c1 c1
ls3
c2 c3
dl li1
c2
lg3
ls3 d
lg3
ls1 c1 l
c1 p1
lg1
pu
lg3 l
lg2
ls2
c2
li2
c1 l
p1
d
ls2
d
dc
dc
pi
d
lg1
dc
ls1 lg3
lg3
lg1
d
ls1
c1
c2 c2
c1 d c2 pu d
ls2 ls1
lg2 d
d
l
ls3
lg3
d
d
dc
c1 lg2
lg2
c3
p2
lg3
c3
c3
dl
ls1 ls2
ls3 c2 c2
c1
lg3
pu
lg2
c1
d
lg2
ls1 li2
lg3
pi
lg2
c1 c2 lg2 lg2 pu
c3 c2
c2
l
c2
ls3 lg2
li2
dc lg3 dc
ls1 c1
li2 lg3 li1
d
ls1
ls2 ls2
c1
i
ls1 lg3
d
ls2 ls2 lg1
dl
lg2
dl
li1
ls3
d
lg3
lg1
c3
d
d
dc
ls2
c1
l
cu c3
dl
d c2
c2 c1
d
ls1
lg3
c1
cu
d
c2
d
lg1
dc
ls2
d
ls2
lg2
lg2
c2
li1 d
c1 c1 c1 lg2
lg3
pu
c2
c3
ls1
lg2 d lg1
c1 c3
lg2
li1
c1 c1
ls2
ls3
c2
li1 dl c2
d
lg3
lg3
c2
lg3
dl li2 cu
lg3
li2 ls1
c1 d
ls3
c1
lg2
ls1
dc
ls1
ls2
c2
dc
c1
ls2
lg2 lg3 ls1
c1 lg1
c2
c2 li1
d
c3
lg3
ls1
lg1 ls3
ls2 c2
dc
lg2
d
d
ls2 c1
c1
lg3
lg3
c1
c1
dc
pu
l
c1
lg3
c2
l
ls3
c2 c1
cu
dc
ls1 ls1
d
c1
lg2
d
lg2
d d
ls3
li2
lg2
lg2 ls3 lg3
l
dc
ls1
c1
ls1
li1
d
ls1
c2
lg2
c1
cu
li1
ls3
d
li1
c2 c1
lg3
ls3
c1
d
dc
lg2
c2 c1
li1
d
lg3
c3
lg2
lg2 l
d
li1
ls2
lg2
c1 d li1
lg2
li1
l
d
li2
lg3
ls2
l
ls1
ls2
l l
ls1 lg3
lg3
d
ls2 l
l
l
lg2
d
dc
d
l
l
l
dl
dl
dc
dc
dl
dl dl
dl
dl
c3
li1
U
r
S
ulcus
Z
u
F
o
s
s
a
e
Halieus
Tettu
Facula
Mehit
Ilah
Gir
Lumha
Abydos
Facula
Edfu
Facula
L
a
k h
m
u
F
o
s s a
e
Ga l i l e o
R e g i o
Aq u a r i u s Su l c u s
Ni n e v e h Su l c u s
X
i b
a
l b
a
S
u
l c
u
s
Bau
Sicyon
Sulcus
Enki Catena
Sati
Neith
Perrine Regio
Kadi
Siwah
Facula
El
Memphis
Facula
Khepri
Nidaba
Erichthonius
Ninlil
Selket
Ni nki
Mush
Ilus
Ishkur P h r y g i a
S u l c u s
O
Andjeti
siris
Ashma
Irkalla
Thoth N
i c h o l s o n
Harakhtes
Kulla
Bigeh
Facula
My s i a
Su l c i
Damkina
Menhit
Min
Shu
Enlil
Diment
Mor
Ba'a l
Ta-urt
Z a k a r
M
a s h u
S
u l c u s
M
a
s h u
S u l c u s
P
hilus
S
ulcus
Geb
Amon
Akhmin
Facula
Isimu
Harpagia
Sulcus
Agreus
S
ulcus
Shuruppak
Sulcus
Shuruppak
Sulcus
Dendera
Geinos
Busiris
Facula
Kishar
Sulcus
Tiamat
S
ulcus
Maa
Buto
Facula
Coptos
Facula
Thebes
Facula
Ningishzida
Melkart
R
e g
i o
Nabu
Seker
Punt
Hedetet
Kingu
Hapi
Bes
Apophis
Atra-hasis
Haroeris
Hershef
Khumbam
Tashmetum
We-ila
Marius
Regio
Nut
Apsu Sul ci
Apsu
Sulci
B
ubastis
S
ulci
Hermopolis
Facula
Nah-Hunte
Cisti
Ammura
Epigeus
Lugalmeslam Anshar Sulcus
Ur u k
Su l c u s
Erech Sulcus
Sippar Sulcus
Lagash
Sulcus
Ninsum
Gad
Lakhamu
Fossa
Hursag
Hursag Sulcus
Sulcus
Khonsu
Eshmun
Sippar
Sulcus
Seima
Ombos
Ur
Sulcus
Nippur
Sulcus
Akitu Sulcus
Byblus
Sulcus
N
u
n
S
u
l c
i
Tammuz
Barnard
Regio
Serapis
Enkidu
Misharu
S u l c u s
Dardanus
Terah Catena
Danel
Nippur
Sulcus
Epigeus
Sulci
Elam

Nanshe
Catena
Larsa
Sulci
Mel ot t e Regi o
Arbela
Sulcus
Dardanus
Sulcus
Arbela
Sulcus
B o r s i p p a
S u l c u s
Mummu
Sulci
Sippar
Sulcus
M
arius
Regio
Mummu
Sulci
B a b y l o n
S u l c i
Tros
Mysia
Sulci
Humbaba
U
m
m
a
0 10W 20W 30W 40W 50W 60W 70W 80W 90W 100W 110W 120W 130W 140W 150W 160W 170W 180W
57N
50N
40N
30N
20N
10N
10S
20S
30S
40S
50S
57S
0
57N
50N
40N
30N
20N
10N
10S
20S
30S
40S
50S
57S
0
10E 20E 30E 40E 50E 60E 70E 80E 90E 100E 110E 120E 130E 140E 150E 160E 170E 180E
0 10W 20W 30W 40W 50W 60W 70W 80W 90W 100W 110W 120W 130W 140W 150W 160W 170W 180W 10E 20E 30E 40E 50E 60E 70E 80E 90E 100E 110E 120E 130E 140E 150E 160E 170E 180E
North
East
South
0 50 100 200 300 400 500 1000 1000 500 400 300 200 100 50
SCALE 1:15 000 000 (1 mm = 15 km) AT 0 LATITUDE
MERCATOR PROJECTION
KILOMETERS
57
30
0
57
30
0
W
est
d
c1
d
c1
dc
c2
d
c3 lg2
lg2
li1
ls2
lg2
c1
d
li1
c1
c2
li1
li2
lg3
lg3
c1
ls2
c3
ls1
ls2
ls2
c1
c2
c2
l
c3
lg2
cu
lg2 lg3
c3
lg1
c2
c1
lg3
c2
c1
c2
lg2
d
cu
lg3
c1
ls1
pu
lg3
ls2
c2
ls3
cu
c1
l
lg2
ls1
d
d
c2
dc
dl
li1
lg3
c2 lg3
pu
li1
ls1
lg1 ls1
dl
cu
lg2
ls3
dl
cu
d
li1 ls2
l
d
l
lg1
d
dc
l
ls3
0 50 100 200 300 400 500 50 100 200 300 400 500
SCALE 1:8 388 000 (1 mm = 8.39 km) AT 56 LATITUDE
SCALE 1:9 172 068 (1 mm = 9.17 km) AT 90 LATITUDE
POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
KILOMETERS
55
70
90
55
70
90
NORTH POLAR REGION
NORTH POLAR REGION NORTH POLAR REGION
0
180
90E 90W
30W
60W
120W
150W 150E
120E
60E
30E
55N
60N
70N
80N
80N
70N
60N
55N
U
r
S
u
lcu
s
P
h
ila
e
S
u
lcu
s
Geb
S
u
l
c
i
Etana
Kishar
Anu
Aya
Sebek
Gula
Adapa
D
u
ku
g
S
u
lcu
s
Neheh
Lagamal
Latpon
Agrotes
E
l
a
m
R e g i o
Ga l i l e o
Achelous
Sapas
Zaqar
Ninkasi
A n z u
L a k h m u
F o s s a e
c1
c2
c2
c1
cu
lg3
ls1
cu
li1
dl
lg2
lg2
li2
li1
lg2
lg1
lg3 ls1
dl
r
ls1
ls2
d
d
lg1
ls2
c2 l
ls1
ls2
cu
dl
dl
dl
c1
c2
c1
ls3
ls2
pi
c1
dc
ls3
c1
c1
ls3 lg2
c2
pi
ls1
p2
ls3
dl
c2
c1
c3
p2
lg3
ls3
dl li1
ls1
d
lg2
c2
d
lg3
dl
l
d
lg1
dc
bi
d
d
ls1
l
lg2
lg3
c3
l
r
d
dc
li2
l
dl
lg3
c1
d
d
cu
lg3
lg2
lg1
cu
lg3
ls3
c1
cu
cu
d
ls2
lg1
c3
d
d
c1
d
c2
ls1
c1
c2
d
d
lg3
li1
c1
c3
d
ls2
ls2
dc
ls2
ls3
d
br
c2
ls1
ls2
li2
ls1
li1
li2
bs
lg2
lg3
ls2
lg3
li1
ls3
ls3
ls2
lg3
dc
lg3
l
l
l
lg3
cu
0
180
90E 90
30W
60W
120W
150W 150E
120E
60E
30E
55S
60S
70S
80S
80S
70S
60S
55S
0 50 100 200 300 400 500 50 100 200 300 400 500
SCALE 1:8 388 000 (1 mm = 8.39 km) AT 56 LATITUDE
SCALE 1:9 172 068 (1 mm = 9.17 km) AT 90 LATITUDE
POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
KILOMETERS
55
70
90
55
70
90
SOUTH POLAR REGION
SOUTH POLAR REGION
Isis
Ptah
Anubis
Wepwawet
Nigirsu
Namtar
G i l g a m e s h
Humbaba
Hathor
Teshub
B o r s i p p a
S u l c u s
B u b a s t i s
S u l c i
Mumm Sulci u
lg3
lg2
lg1
ls3
ls2
ls1
li3
li2
li1
l
r
dl
dc
d
c3
c2
c1
cu
bs
br
bi
p2
p1
pu
pi
DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS
U UNIT
LABEL NIT NAMEAND DESCRIPTION INTERPRETATION UNIT RELATIONS
Light grooved materialsRelatively high
to moderate albedo material dominated by
closely packed groove structures. Groove
structures share similar spacing and orientation
within each area of light grooved material
Formed by tectonic deformation of preexisting
material units, which could have been light subdued
material or possibly dark material. Tectonic defor-
mation predominantly caused by extension of crust
Young light grooved materialLight
grooved material crosscutting intermediate
light materials (lg2, ls2, li2) and old light
materials (lg1, ls1, li1)
Light material deformed by grooves during later
part of Harpagian Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi. May be older than c1, cu,
p2, pi, pu. Locally contemporaneous with ls3 and li3. May be locally
contemporaneous with l
Bottom boundary: Locally younger than lg2, ls2, li2. Because crosscut-
ting relations only provide local to regional age information, may be
contemporaneous with distant lg2, ls2, li2. May be younger than l, c1,
cu, p2, pi, pu. Younger than p1, lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl, dc, d
Intermediate light grooved material
Light grooved material crosscut by young
light materials (lg3, ls3, li3) and crosscutting
old light materials (lg1, ls1, li1)
Light material deformed by grooves during middle
part of Harpagian Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi. May be older than l, c1,
cu, p2, pi, pu. Locally older than lg3, ls3, li3. Because crosscutting
relations only provide local to regional age information, may be con-
temporaneous with distant lg3, ls3, li3. Locally contemporaneous with
ls2 and li2. May be locally contemporaneous with l
Bottom boundary: Locally younger than lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl. Because
crosscutting relations only provide local to regional age information,
may be contemporaneous with distant lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl, d. May be
younger than l, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. Younger than p1, and dc
Old light grooved materialLight grooved
material crosscut by intermediate light materi-
als (lg2, ls2, li2) and young light materials
(lg3, ls3, li3)
Light material deformed by grooves during early
part of Harpagian Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi, lg3, ls3, li3. May be older
than l, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. Locally older than lg2, ls2, li2. Because
crosscutting relations only provide local to regional age information,
may be contemporaneous with distant lg2, ls2, li2. Locally contempora-
neous with ls1, li1, r, dl. May be locally contemporaneous with l and d
Bottom boundary: May be younger than d, c1, cu, pi, pu. Younger
than p1, dc
Light subdued materialsRelatively high
to moderate albedo material characterized
by smooth surface with faint lineaments.
Lineaments share similar spacing and orienta-
tion within each area of light subdued mate-
rial. Boundaries of subdued units commonly
defined by groove structures
May be formed by cryovolcanic extrusion of clean
ice from the interior of Ganymede. Some subdued
areas may form through crustal spreading. Limited
tectonic deformation compared to light grooved
material. May be dominated by structural features
below the resolution of the images. This unit
appears to be more typical of the early stages of
light terrain formation
Young light subdued materialLight sub-
dued material crosscutting intermediate light
materials (lg2, ls2, li2) and old light materials
(lg1, ls1, li1)
Light material emplaced during later part of
Harpagian Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi. May be older than c1, cu,
p2, pi, pu. Locally contemporaneous with lg3 and li3. May be locally
contemporaneous with l
Bottom boundary: Locally younger than lg2, ls2, li2. Because crosscut-
ting relations only provide local to regional age information, may be
contemporaneous with distant lg2, ls2, li2. May be younger than l, c1,
cu, p2, pi, pu. Younger than p1, lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl, dc, d
Intermediate light subdued material
Light subdued material that is crosscut by
young light materials (lg3, ls3, li3) and cross-
cuts old light materials (lg1, ls1, li1)
Light material emplaced during middle part of
Harpagian Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi. May be older than l, c1,
cu, p2, pi, pu. Locally older than lg3, ls3, li3. Because crosscutting
relations only provide local to regional age information, may be con-
temporaneous with distant lg3, ls3, li3. Locally contemporaneous with
lg2 and li2. May be locally contemporaneous with l
Bottom boundary: Locally younger than lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl. Because
crosscutting relations only provide local to regional age information,
may be contemporaneous with distant lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl, d. May be
younger than l, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. Younger than p1, and dc
Old light subdued materialLight sub-
dued material that is crosscut by young light
materials (lg3, ls3, li3) and intermediate light
materials (lg2, ls2, li2)
Light material emplaced during early part of
Harpagian Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi, lg3, ls3, li3. May be older
than l, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. Locally older than lg2, ls2, li2. Because cross-
cutting relations only provide local to regional age information, may be
contemporaneous with distant lg2, ls2, li2. Locally contemporaneous
with lg1, li1, r, dl. May be locally contemporaneous with l and d
Bottom boundary: May be younger than d, c1, cu, pi, pu. Younger
than p1, dc
Light irregular materialsRelatively high
to moderate albedo material with mixture of
smooth surfaces and grooves. Grooves have
irregular orientations and spacing. Light
irregular unit could be divided into smaller
areas of grooved and subdued material at sizes
smaller than minimum outcrop size at scale
of map
Complex history of deformation concentrated in
small areas. Component small grooved and subdued
areas originate in same manner as grooved light
material and subdued light material
Young light irregular materialLight
irregular material crosscutting intermedi-
ate light materials (lg2, ls2, li2) and old light
materials (lg1, ls1, li1)
Light material emplaced and deformed by grooves
during later part of Harpagian Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi. May be older than c1, cu,
p2, pi, pu. Locally contemporaneous with lg3 and ls3. May be locally
contemporaneous with l
Intermediate light irregular material
Light irregular material that is crosscut by
young light materials (lg3, ls3, li3) and cross-
cuts old light materials (lg1, ls1, li1)
Light material emplaced and deformed by grooves
during middle part of Harpagian Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi. May be older than l, c1,
cu, p2, pi, pu. Locally older than lg3, ls3, li3. Because crosscutting
relations only provide local to regional age information, may be con-
temporaneous with distant lg3, ls3, li3. Locally contemporaneous with
lg2 and ls2. May be locally contemporaneous with l
Bottom boundary: Locally younger than lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl. Because
crosscutting relations only provide local to regional age information,
may be contemporaneous with distant lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl, d. May be
younger than l, c1, cu, , pi, pu. Younger than p1 and dc
Old light irregular materialLight irregu-
lar material that is crosscut by young light
materials (lg3, ls3, li3) and intermediate light
materials (lg2, ls2, li2)
Light material emplaced and deformed by grooves
during early part of Harpagian Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi, lg3, ls3, li3. May be older
than l, c1, cu, p2
p2
, pi, pu. Locally older than lg2, ls2, li2. Because cross-
cutting relations only provide local to regional age information, may be
contemporaneous with distant lg2, ls2, li2. Locally contemporaneous
with lg1, ls1, r, dl. May be locally contemporaneous with l and d
Bottom boundary: May be younger than d, c1, cu, pi, pu. Younger
than p1, dc
Light undivided materialRelatively high
to moderate albedo material imaged under
sufficiently poor viewing conditions such that
morphological differences between grooved,
subdued, and irregular units cannot be
distinguished
Mixture of other light material units described
above
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi. May be older than lg2, ls2,
li2, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. May be contemporaneous with lg3, ls3, li3
Bottom boundary: May be contemporaneous with lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl.
May be younger than d, c1, cu, pi, pu. Younger than p1, dc
Reticulate materialMaterial of highly vari-
able albedo extensively modified by two dom-
inant sets of topographic grooves. Grooves are
typically oriented at nearly orthogonal angles.
Associated with old light materials (lg1, ls1,
li1) and dark lineated material (dl)
Mixture of former bright and dark material units
overprinted by moderate tectonic deformation in
two directions
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi, lg3, ls3, li3. May be older
than l, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. Locally older than lg2, ls2, li2. Because cross-
cutting relations only provide local to regional age information, may be
contemporaneous with distant lg2, ls2, li2. Locally contemporaneous
with lg1, ls1, li1, dl. May be locally contemporaneous with l and d
Bottom boundary: May be younger than d, c1, cu, pi, pu. Younger
than p1, dc
Dark lineated materialRelatively low albedo
material dominated by sets of parallel or
irregular grooves. Associated with old light
materials (lg1, ls1, li1) and reticulate material
(r)
Dark cratered material deformed by tectonic pro-
cesses in early Harpagian. Grooves are probably
extensional faults
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi, lg3, ls3, li3. May be older
than l, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. Locally older than lg2, ls2, li2. Because cross-
cutting relations only provide local to regional age information, may be
contemporaneous with distant lg2, ls2, li2. Locally contemporaneous
with lg1, ls1, li1, r. May be locally contemporaneous with l and d
Bottom boundary: May be younger than d, c1, cu, pi, pu. Younger
than p1, dc
Dark cratered materialRelatively low
albedo material with moderate to high crater
densities. Includes smooth dark patches and
brighter hummocks at local scale. Superposed
by and crosscut by all other units and features.
Furrow structures are found on some dark
cratered material
Oldest preserved surface on Ganymede.
Extensively modified by impact features and, in
places, cut by sets of furrows. Dark surface appears
to be refractory lag deposit left behind by sublima-
tion degradation
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2,
lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, p2. May be older than d, c1, cu, pi, pu
Bottom boundary: May be contemporaneous with d, c1, cu, p1, pi, pu
Dark undivided materialRelatively low
albedo material imaged under sufficiently
poor viewing conditions such that morpholog-
ical differences between cratered and lineated
materials cannot be distinguished
Mixture of dark cratered material and dark lineated
material described above
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2.
May be older than c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. May be locally contemporaneous
with lg1, ls1, li1, r, dl, l
Bottom boundary: May be contemporaneous with dc, c1, cu, p1, pi, pu
Crater materialsMaterial making up rims,
interiors, and visible continuous ejecta depos-
its of craters. Only craters larger than 30 km
diameter are mapped. Discontinuous ejecta
and rays are not mapped
Formed by hypervelocity impacts of exogenous
material into surface of Ganymede
Fresh crater materialCraters exhibiting
strong albedo contrast with surrounding ter-
rain. Craters have continuous ejecta deposits
and readily observable rays
Youngest and least degraded impact craters Top boundary: Formation ongoing. May be contemporaneous with cu
Bottom boundary: Possibly younger than or contemporaneous with cu.
Unit degrades to form c2, therefore must be locally younger than c2.
Due to variations in lighting angles and uncertainty in bright ray deg-
radation timescales, may be contemporaneous with distant c2. Younger
than c1, br, bs, bi, p2, p1, pi, pu, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2, lg1, ls1, li1,
l, r, dl, dc, d
Partially degraded crater material
Craters exhibiting albedo contrast with
surrounding terrain, with continuous ejecta
deposits but lacking rays
Impact craters of intermediate age, only moderately
degraded
Top boundary: May be older than cu. Unit is degraded form of c3,
therefore must be locally older than c3. Due to variations in lighting
angles and uncertainty in bright ray degradation timescales, may be
contemporaneous with distant c3
Bottom boundary: May be younger than cu. Unit degrades to form c1,
therefore must be locally younger than c1. Due to variations in lighting
angles and resolution, may be contemporaneous with distant c1. May
be younger than br, bs, bi. Younger than p2, p1, pi, pu, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2,
ls2, li2, lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, dc, d
Degraded crater materialCraters with
interior albedo matching surrounding terrain,
and no evident rays or continuous ejecta
deposits
Oldest and most degraded impact craters Top boundary: Older than c3. May be older than cu, br, bs, bi. Unit is
degraded form of c2, therefore must be locally older than c2. Due to
variations in lighting angles and resolution, may be contemporaneous
with distant c2
Bottom boundary: May be younger than or contemporaneous with p2,
p1, pi, pu, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2, lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, dc, d
Undivided crater materialCraters imaged
under sufficiently poor viewing conditions
such that differences between degraded,
partially degraded, and fresh craters cannot be
distinguished
Mixture of other crater material units described
above
Basin materialsMaterials making up
Gilgamesh basin
Formed by largest impact on Ganymede since
Nicholsonian Period
Smooth basin materialOuter annulus of
material surrounding center of Gilgamesh.
Exhibits smoothly mottled texture. Fields of
secondary craters appear outside outer limit of
smooth basin material
Continuous ejecta deposits surrounding Gilgamesh
impact basin
Top boundary: Older than c3. May be older than c2, c1, cu.
Contemporaneous with br and bi
Bottom boundary: Contemporaneous with br and bi. May be younger
than c2, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. Younger than p1, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2,
lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, dc, d
Rugged basin materialInner annulus of
material surrounding center of Gilgamesh.
Composed of hummocky terrain punctuated
by large angular massifs. Also includes quasi-
concentric discontinuous ridges. Outer bound-
ary defined by large inward-facing scarp
Collapsed rim and interior of Gilgamesh impact
basin
Top boundary: Older than c3. May be older than c2, c1, cu.
Contemporaneous with bs and bi
Bottom boundary: Contemporaneous with bs and bi. May be younger
than c2, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. Younger than p1, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2,
lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, dc, d
Basin interior plains materialLow dome
of smooth material in center of Gilgamesh.
Outer boundary defined by discontinuous
inward-facing scarp
Ductile ice extruded from subsurface during modifi-
cation stage of Gilgamesh impact basin
Palimpsest materialsHigh to moderate albedo
material forming flat, circular to slightly ellip-
tical deposits. Interior texture may be smooth
to hummocky. Commonly displays internal
concentric rings
Large impact craters formed during time of high
heat flow and rapid viscous relaxation between
Nicholsonian Period and early Gilgameshan Period
Young palimpsest materialPalimpsests
superposed on light material units. May also
be simultaneously superposed on dark mate-
rial units
Large impact craters formed during Harpagian
Period or early Gilgameshan Period
Top boundary: Older than c3 and c2. May be older than c1, cu, br, bs,
bi. Locally contemporaneous with pi. May be contemporaneous with
pu
Bottom boundary: May be younger than pu, pi, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2,
lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, d. Younger than p1 and dc
Ancient palimpsest materialPalimpsests
superposed on dark material units and crosscut
by adjacent light material units
Large impact craters formed during Nicholsonian
Period
Top boundary: Older than c3, c2, br, bs, bi, p2, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2,
lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl. May be older than c1, cu, pu, d. May be contempo-
raneous with dc
Bottom boundary: May be younger than or contemporaneous with c1,
cu, pu, dc, d. Locally contemporaneous with pi
Undivided palimpsest materialPalimpsests
not in contact with light material units, so
relative age cannot be determined
Mixture of young and ancient palimpsest materials
described above
Top boundary: Older than c3 and c2. May be older than c1, cu, br, bs,
bi. Locally contemporaneous with pi. May be contemporaneous with
p2
Bottom boundary: May be younger than or contemporaneous with p1,
lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2, lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, dc, d
Palimpsest interior plains material
Roughly circular patches of smooth material
occurring in centers of some palimpsests
Ductile ice extruded from subsurface during modifi-
cation of impact craters that formed palimpsests
Top boundary: Older than c3 and c2. May be older than c1, cu, br, bs,
bi. Locally contemporaneous with p2 or pu
Bottom boundary: May be younger than or contemporaneous with c1,
cu, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2, lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, dc, d. Locally contem-
poraneous with p1 or pu
(basemap resolution) (high resolution)
TYPE EXAMPLE TYPE EXAMPLE
LIGHT MATERIALS
OTHER LIGHT MATERIALS
RETICULATE MATERIAL
IMPACT-RELATED MATERIALS
DARK MATERIALS
Top boundary: Older than c3. May be older than c2, c1, cu.
Contemporaneous with br and bs
Bottom boundary: Contemporaneous with br and bs. . May be younger
than c2, c1, cu, p2, pi, pu. Younger than p1, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2,
lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, dc, d
Top boundary: May be older than c3, c2, c1, br, bs, bi, p2, p1, pi, pu,
lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2, lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, dc, d
Bottom boundary: May be younger than c3, c2, c1, br, bs, bi, p2, p1,
pi, pu, lg3, ls3, li3, lg2, ls2, li2, lg1, ls1, li1, l, r, dl, dc, d
500 km 50 km
11N, 168W
16S, 50E 16S, 50E
34N, 174E 34N, 174E
24S, 42E 24S, 42E
15S, 22E 15S, 22E
28S, 174E 28S, 174E
16S, 24E 16S, 24E
64N, 12W 64N, 12W
62N, 12W 62N, 12W
14N, 157E 14N, 157E
59S, 129W 59S, 129W
54S, 133W 54S, 133W
63S, 123W 63S, 123W
14N, 157E 14N, 157E
11N, 168W
Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only
and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government
For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver,
CO 80225, 1888ASKUSGS
Suggested citation: Collins, G.C., Patterson, G.W., Head, J.W., Pappalardo, R.T., Prockter,
L.M., Lucchitta, B.K., and Kay, J.P., 2013, Global geologic map of Ganymede: U.S. Geological
Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3237, scale 1:15,000,000, http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3237/. Printed on recycled paper
Global Geologic Map of Ganymede
By
Geoffrey C. Collins1, G. Wesley Patterson2,3, James W. Head3, Robert T. Pappalardo4,
Louise M. Prockter2, Baerbel K. Lucchitta5, and Jonathan P. Kay1
2013
Prepared on behalf of the Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program, Solar System
Exploration Division, Office of Space Science, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
Edited by J.L. Zigler; cartography by Kathryn Nimz
Manuscript approved for publication November 12, 2012
Descriptions of nomenclature used on map are listed at
http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/
Prepared for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Scientific Investigations Map 3237
Pamphlet accompanies map
1 Wheaton College 2 Applied Physics Laboratory 3 Brown University 4 Jet Propulsion Laboratory 5 U.S. Geological Survey
FurrowIndividual linear to curvilinear troughs bounded by prominent raised rims on either side,
confined to dark cratered units. Generally grouped in fragmentary concentric sets. Cuts across
dark cratered material (dc) and crosscut by grooves. Interpretation: Remnants of multi-ringed
basins caused by large impacts into a relatively thin brittle lithosphere during the Nicholsonian
period
GrooveTypically occur as densely packed sets of parallel ridges and troughs. Occasionally occur as
single curvilinear troughs. Superposed on light materials, reticulate material (r), and dark
lineated material (dl). Only one representative groove structure is shown within each material
unit with grooves. Interpretation: Created by motion along large normal faults or by extensional
necking instabilities. In some places grooves may accommodate strike-slip motion
DepressionFlat-floored depressions surrounded by inward-scalloped walls, breached on one side.
Typically associated with light subdued materials (ls3, ls2, ls1). Interpretation: Possible cryovol-
canic source vents for extrusion of clean icy material to form light material units
Crater rimRoughly circular rim crests surrounding interiors of crater material units. Interpreta-
tion: Rims of impact craters
DomeSteep-sided domes with flat tops, occurring in centers of large craters. Commonly
surrounded by annular trough. Interpretation: Ductile ice extruded from subsurface during
modification stage of large impact crater formation
Prominent secondary craterFields of uniform small craters surrounding ejecta deposits of large
fresh crater material (c3), large partially degraded crater material (c2), young palimpsests (p2),
and the Gilgamesh impact basin. Only extensive, prominent fields of secondary craters are
mapped. Interpretation: Material ejected by recent large impact events, reimpacting the surface
beyond the continuous ejecta deposit of the associated crater materials
ContactDashed where approximate. Dotted contacts denote internal contacts, in which adjacent
units of the same material do not share similar structures (for example, light grooved material
units with different groove spacing and orientation). Unit boundaries without contacts (for
example, some boundaries of undivided materials) represent changes in quality of imaging
coverage and loss of morphological information, rather than actual changes in material units
EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS
l
ls1
ls2
ls3
li1
li2
li3
r dl
dc d
bs bi
p2
pu pi
p1
c1
c2
c3
lg1
lg2
lg3
cu
br
LIGHT MATERIAL RETICULATE DARK MATERIAL IMPACT MATERIAL
CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS
NICHOLSONIAN
HARPAGIAN
GILGAMESHAN