Fault geometries and extension in the Valles Marineris, Mars

Details Fault geometries and extension in the Valles Marineris, Mars Fault geometries and extension in the Valles Marineris, Mars

Mar 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993lpi....24..263c&link_type=abstract

In Lunar and Planetary Inst., Twenty-fourth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Part 1: A-F p 263-264 (SEE N94-12015 01-91)

Mathematics

Logic

3

Geological Faults, Mars Surface, Planetary Crusts, Planetary Geology, Troughs, Collapse, Erosion, Photogrammetry, Tectonics

Scientific paper

The central troughs of the Valles Marineris system on Mars are generally regarded to be of tectonic origin because they are linear and bounded by faults. Their radial orientation to the Tharsis rise suggests that at least their incipient formation was influenced by the formation of the rise, but the exact role of Tharsis is not yet well understood. Collapse and erosion may have significantly modified the original tectonic troughs. To better understand the magnitude and mechanism of crustal extension across the Valles Marineris, the attitudes of trough-wall faults that parallel the long axes of the troughs were studied. Our results will help to determine if the extension is related to the Tharsis rise, to a local arch along which the troughs lie, or to other mechanisms. Fault-plane attitudes were obtained by performing a photogrammetric study of fault traces in the walls of Candor and Melas Chasmata. If the exposed wall faults are not major trough-bounding faults, it is assumed that these major faults are buried at the base of the walls and have similar geometries to the exposed faults. Three dimensional coordinates of several points along each fault trace were obtained and three-point solutions to their geometries were constructed. As expected, the results show that the faults dip toward the interior of the troughs, suggesting that they are indeed normal faults associated with trough formation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Fault geometries and extension in the Valles Marineris, Mars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Fault geometries and extension in the Valles Marineris, Mars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fault geometries and extension in the Valles Marineris, Mars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1447422