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.

An on-line atlas of Mars

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