Martian cratering VI. Crater count isochrons and evidence for recent volcanism from Mars Global Surveyor

Details Martian cratering VI. Crater count isochrons and evidence for recent volcanism from Mars Global Surveyor Martian cratering VI. Crater count isochrons and evidence for recent volcanism from Mars Global Surveyor

Mar 1999

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999m%26ps...34..167h&link_type=abstract

Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 167-177 (1999).

Statistics

Methodology

88

Scientific paper

This paper develops a methodology to establish absolute Martian ages, by deriving isochrons on a plot of Martian impact crater density versus crater diameter, calibrated by lunar crater/age data. The isochrons illustrated here are based on a Mars/moon cratering ratio of 1.6 at constant size, but there is a factor 2 to 4 uncertainty in this ratio and the consequent model ages. Martian crater diameter distributions are determined in several areas down to diameter D = 16-45 m, and the shapes of the curves in young areas are found to be close to that of the predicted isochrons, and also close to the standard production function found by Neukum. The youngest areas studied here display the lunar-like production function down to D ~30 m, where saturation equilibrium sets in. Model crater retention ages of several volcanic units are found to be a few hundred My or less, with estimated uncertainties ranging from a factor 2 lower to a factor 4 higher. The results are consistent with Martian meteorite ages. Volcanism on Mars has probably persisted into the last 10 to 15 percent of the planet's history, and is likely ongoing. Because surfaces as young as a few hundred My have reached crater saturation equilibrium at D <~60 to 100 m, Mars is likely to have widespread impact-produced regoliths at least a few meters deep, and this may contribute to the widespread mobile dust and boulder fields of Mars.

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