Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Jan 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002usnc.conf...19h&link_type=abstract
Unmixing the SNCs: Chemical, Isotopic, and Petrologic Components of the Martian Meteorites, p. 19
Mathematics
Logic
Mars (Planet), Snc Meteorites, Mars Craters, Mars Surface, Geochronology, Basalt, Lava, Regolith, Ice, Carbonates
Scientific paper
A significant fraction of Mars, perhaps 30-50%, is covered by heavily cratered uplands. The high crater densities constrain their ages to be greater than 2 Gy or even 3 Gy. A somewhat smaller fraction is covered by young lava plains with crater retention ages less than 1.5 Gy, and even less than 0.5 Gy over wide areas of Tharsis, Amazonis, and Elysium. These young ages for basaltic lava plains agree with ages of Martian basaltic meteorites. The problem is that all but one of the 4 to 8 sample sites of SNCs lie in the age range of 0.2 to 1.3 Gy, and the other one is a sample of primordial crust of 4.5 Gy age. These data suggest that the Martian uplands do not efficiently launch meteorites. MGS and Odyssey data imply that the upper latitude Hesperian/Noachian Martian uplands, older than 2 to 3 Gy, are impregnated with near-surface ice. Furthermore, direct geometric considerations of crater areal coverage show that they have been pulverized into megaregolith, although that material itself may be recemented by salts, carbonates, and ice. Thus, the Martian uplands probably do not launch meteorites as effectively as the young basaltic plains, and those that are launched may be rich in rock types that are unfamiliar as meteorites. These considerations should affect future meteorite collection strategies.
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