What characterized the basaltic lava that formed the maria via flood basalt volcanism?
Answer
Low viscosity, spreading out quickly
The lava that comprised the maria was basaltic and possessed a low viscosity, meaning it was runny and flowed easily. This characteristic allowed the molten material, which rose following the crustal fracturing caused by impacts, to spread rapidly and thinly across the lowest elevations, specifically the floors of the impact basins. This expansive, successive layering of thin flows, emanating from cracks or fissures rather than central cones, is precisely what defines flood basalt volcanism and results in the relatively flat, smooth plains characteristic of the maria.
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