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Mars Tectonics & Volcanology

This article discusses the tectonic and volcanic features of Mars, comparing them to those on Earth. It explores the absence of plate tectonics on Mars and the unique volcanic signatures found on the planet. The article also highlights various volcanic provinces on Mars and potential exploration sites.

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Mars Tectonics & Volcanology

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  1. Mars Tectonics & Volcanology Zachary Gallegos University of New Mexico / Mars One

  2. Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter Map

  3. Plate Tectonics • Lithospheric plates sliding on the asthenosphere, above the mantle • Exists on Earth • Theory proposed in the early 1900’s • Does it exist on other bodies in the solar system?

  4. Plate Tectonics • Recycles material • Regulates the atmosphere • CO2 sequestration and output • Linked with mantle convection • Push new material to surface at divergent boundaries • Pulls old material into the Earth at convergent boundaries

  5. Tectonics of Earth • Picture of plates

  6. Plate boundaries • Divergent • Spreading apart • Convergent • Moving together • Strike-slip • Sliding past

  7. Divergent • Mid-Atlantic ridge • Oceanic • East African Rift • Continental • Rio Grand Rift • Continental

  8. Convergent • Mariana Islands/Trench • oceanic-oceanic • Pacific Northwest • oceanic-continental • Himalayas • continental-continental

  9. Strike-slip • San Andres fault • right lateral

  10. Plate Tectonics of Mars

  11. Tectonics of Mars • Mars seems to lack global, Earth-like tectonics • Too small? • Not enough water? • Large scale faulting • HUGE scale rifting

  12. Topography • Mars’ planetary dichotomy • Not tectonic in origin • Bolide impact , water resurfacing • Slow sloping at the dichotomy • not pronounced • Earth’s dynamic lithosphere • Tectonic in origin • Steeply sloping at the margins • Continental and oceanic crust

  13. Magnetics • Mars lacks a current magnetic field • Magnetic reversals recorded on Earth

  14. Magnetics • Possible magnetic reversals recorded in early Martian crust

  15. Interior of Mars • Smaller/colder • Less water

  16. Faulting • Tectonic movement • Normal (extension) • Reverse (compression) • Strike-slip (lateral)

  17. Faulting on Mars • Thrust faulting • AmenthesRupes • Normal faulting • Circum-Tharsis • Strike-slip faulting?? • Within Valles Marineris

  18. Faulting on Mars • Circum-Tharsis • Extensional faulting

  19. Valles Marineris • Giant tectonic fissure in the crust • Not the result of plates • Result of Tharsis uplift • Length: > 4,000km • Width: > 200km • Depth: > 7km • Largest known valley in the solar system

  20. Valles Marineris • Nearly ¼ or the planets circumference • Nine times longer than the grand canyon

  21. VallisMarineris

  22. Volcanology • Study of volcanoes • Volcanoes bring new material to the surface from below • Lava, ash, gas

  23. Volcanology of Earth • Most of Earth’s volcanism is related to plate tectonics • Divergent and convergent boundaries

  24. Volcanology of Mars • No planetary tectonics • Shield forming • Hot spot volcanism (e.g. Hawaii) • Mostly basaltic in compositions • From ultramafic komattiatic to dacitic

  25. Rocks and Minerals • Mars has a different volcanic signature than Earth

  26. Why Basalt? • Hot spot volcanism produces basalt

  27. Volcanism and Tectonics • With no tectonics, volcanoes grow to enormous size

  28. Montes • Mons are large shield volcanoes • Earth analogue: Hawaii • Gentle slopes < 6° Ascraeus Mons Pavonis Mons Arsia Mons

  29. Tholi • Tholus is a term for smaller, dome shaped volcanoes • Older than Mons • Buried by later flows • Steeper flanks • Different material than Montes? • Less material than Montes?

  30. Patera • Term given to small volcanoes with large calderas • Latin translation: shallow drinking bowl • Larger calderas than the tholi • Probably represent larger volcanoes • Buried beneath flows and sediment

  31. Rootless Volcanoes & Pseudocraters • Show no sign of magma conduit • Analogues on Earth erupt due to a magma body flowing over a surface or subterranean water source

  32. Martian Volcanic Provinces

  33. Tharsis • Largest volcanic province on Mars • 25% of the planets surface • Avg. 7-10km above datum • Youngest flows on Mars

  34. Tharsis Arsia Mons

  35. Olympus Mons • Largest mountain in the solar system • Height: > 22km • Diameter: > 500km • Slope: ~ 4° • 6 nested calderas • 3.5km deep

  36. Alba Mons • North of Tharsisbuldge • Very low slopes ~ .5° • 1600km across • Rises 3km above plains

  37. Elysium • Second largest volcanic province • 1,700x2,400 km • Elysium Mons • 13km high • HecatesTholus • North • AlborTholus • South

  38. Syrtis Major • 1200km across • 2km high • 2 calderas • NiliPatera, Meroe Patera • Silica rich rocks • Dacite & Granite Isidis Basin

  39. Highland Patera • Near the Hellas impact basin • Impact induced volcanism along fractures?

  40. Arabia Terra • Low relief Patera • Structures that look like Earth’s supervolcanoes • e.g. Eden Patera

  41. Questions?

  42. Geography of Mars

  43. Volcanic Provinces

  44. Exploration Sites

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