Some Remarks on the Geology of Ganymede

The icy jovian satellite Ganymede shows complex morphological and tectonic features whose interpretation is to be performed in the framework of the physical and chemical conditions in which the satellite evolved. Water-ice is a major constituent of Ganymede bulk composition. Two major geologic units have been recognized: cratered terrain and grooved terrain. These two units differ in albedo, crater density and in the tectonic framework. In this paper we report the preliminary results of a detailed geologic study of some of the largest areas of cratered and grooved terrains. Aspects of the geologic history of the icy surface of Ganymede are also discussed.