What process describes the immense, thin flows from crustal cracks that formed the lunar maria?
Answer
Flood basalt volcanism
The specific mechanism responsible for creating the expansive, flat plains of the maria is known as flood basalt volcanism. This type of volcanism is characterized not by tall, conical mountains, but by immense volumes of low-viscosity lava emerging from extensive cracks or fissures within the crust. This runny lava flows rapidly outward, covering the pre-existing topography of the impact basins in successive, relatively thin layers over extended geological timescales, leading to the smooth surfaces observed today.
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