Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
May 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agusm...p31a07f&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2001, abstract #P31A-07
Mathematics
Logic
1824 Geomorphology (1625), 5470 Surface Materials And Properties, 6225 Mars, 8450 Planetary Volcanism (5480)
Scientific paper
Data from the Mars Orbiting Laser Altimeter (MOLA) are used to investigate Amazonis Planitia, the region with the smoothest plains on Mars. Amazonis Planitia, located just west of Olympus Mons, shows evidence for several volcanic episodes as well as geologically recent water-borne sedimentation. When normalized for regional slope ("detrended"), MOLA altimetry data clearly show small-scale relief variations that reveal previously masked elements of local topography. Using detrended MOLA data, we were able to map several new units and re-interpret previously identified units and relationships. The detrended data reveal that 1) Hesperian ridged plains underlie the current surface of Amazonis Planitia; 2) lava, presumably from Olympus Mons but possibly from Tharsis, flowed WNW across Amazonis prior to the creation of the Olympus Mons aureole; 3) post-aureole, lobate flows from southern Tharsis extend into southeastern Amazonis; 4) the very smooth central Amazonis unit appears to embay and abut the pre- and post-aureole flows; 5) the very smooth central Amazonis unit shows a variety of curving channel-like features that appear to originate at the mouth of Marte Vallis; 5) lava flow fronts from Marte Vallis extend a few km into these channels, supporting the theory [Plescia, Icarus, 88, 465, 1990; Keszthelyi et al., JGR, 105, 15027, 2000] that the Marte Vallis channels were carved by water and resurfaced by subsequent lava flow. On the basis of these observations, we propose the following geological history for Amazonis Planitia: 1) Hesperian volcanic resurfacing; 2) wrinkle ridge formation; 3) emplacement of pre-aureole flows; 4) emplacement of the Olympus Mons aureole; 5) emplacement of post-aureole flows from southern Tharsis; 6) basin flooding and sedimentation through Marte Vallis outflow channels; 7) emplacement of very young flows through Marte Vallis.
Fuller Elizabeth R.
Head James W.
Kreslavsky Mikhail A.
Pratt Scott
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