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The Geology of Mars
Flight into Valles Marineris
Geological Processes
Chaotic TerrainForms when subsurface water or ice causes a
loss of support and the ground collapses.
GrabenA depressed block of
land bordered by parallel faults (graben is German for ditch).
SappingSapping valleys are formed breaks the
surface and undermines rock and sediment,
causing it to collapse.
Slumping
The grounds collapses and sinks or falls suddenly and
heavily.
Subsidence
The sinking of ground surface due to the physical removal of ground surface.
Landslides
Material that has fallen down a steep slope and material piles up at the
bottom.
Layers
Formed by stacks of lava flows, ash from volcanoes,
dust, or by sediments deposited in water.
Fractures/Faults
Result from breaks in the surface. They are
generally straight.
Fracture Fault
Gullies
Often found on crater walls or other slopes. May be
associated with past liquid water or areas once covered with snow.
Fissures
Cracks that are found sometimes on the sides of
volcanoes. Lava flows may be seen moving away from the fissure, indicating
lava flow.
Lava Flows
Formed by flowing lava. Flows can look “wavy” or
“fingery.” Flows are raised features.
Collapsed Lava Tube
Look similar to channels. Lava once flowed
underground through a tunnel. Some aren’t
completely collapsed and look like a small chain of
craters.
Channels
Formed by consistent flow of water over a long period
of time. Has a curvy or meandering shape.
Streamlined IslandsThought to be associated
with the plast flow of water around a feature. Often
found in outflow channels wher large amounts of
water flowed.
Sand Dunes
Often seen in the bottom of craters or channels.
Look like ripples of material.
Yardangs
Formed by sand-sized particles being blown
against a surface, wearing it away.
Regions of Mars
Tharsis
Volcanic Plateau on Mars.
There are three enormous shield volcanoes Arsia
Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Ascraeus Mons, which are known as the Tharsis
Montes.
Volcanic Plateau on Mars.
Arsia Mons Parvonus Mons
Volcanic Plateau on Mars.
Ascraeus Mons
Volcanic Plateau on Mars.
Olympus Mons is nearby.
There are other small volcanoes.
Lava flows are common in the Tharsis region.
Marineris
Valles Marineris (the Grand Canyon of
Mars is found in this area.
On Earth, it would stretch from San
Francisco, CA to New York, NY.
There are many regions in Valles
Marineris.
There are plateaus in the south, craters in the north and south, additional valleys in
the north
Meridani
A heavily cratered region.
Opportunity found evidence for water in
this region.
The Aureum & Arsinoes Choases (chaotic terrain)
are found in Meridani.
Syrtis Major
This is a plateau & volcanic region.
You can see examples of wind
blow terrain.
This is a highly cratered region.
Valleys and layering geology are found
here.
Hesperia
The southern part of the region is on a
plateau.
It is a highly cratered region in the south.
Elysium Planitia is a major
volcanic region.
Elysium Mons volcano found here.
South and west from Elysium Mons you find
Elysium Chasma.
Continue south and west and you find the Hyblaeus
Dorsa lava flows.
Memnonia
The southern part of the region has many
craters.
The craters in this region show evidence
of erosion.
Tartarus Montes
In the northeastern corner there are two
plains – Arcadia Planitia and Amazonus Planitia.