Abstract
<jats:p>The surface of Europa is geologically very young and exhibits a unique collection of complex features, among which lineaments, ridges, and large bands extending over hundreds to thousands of kilometers, indicators of intense tectonic activity and various degrees of dilation. The Galileo mission revealed the presence of a significant fraction of salts, with a higher concentration along these tectonic features, suggesting an internal origin. In this work, we perform numerical simulations of dilational band formation, carry out a parametric study to uncover the conditions under which lateral tectonic extension could lead to their formation, and predict their morphology under various conditions. We identify that dilational bands form at high extensional strain rates and that the thickness and strength of the lithosphere govern the type of dilational band formed. We also explore how extension drives the transport of crustal non-ice material (CNIM), such as salts, from the ocean to the surface, explaining their presence and spatial distribution on Europa's surface. We find that the surface composition reflects the initial vertical profile of the ice shell, resulting in a wide range of eventual distributions of CNIM, and sometimes oceanic material, at the surface.</jats:p>