NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Noachian Faulting: What Do Faults Tell Us About the Tectonic History of Tharsis?The western hemisphere of Mars is dominated by the formation of Tharsis, which is an enormous high-standing region (roughly 25% of the surface area of the planet) capped by volcanics, including the solar system's largest shield volcanoes. Tharsis is surrounded by an enormous radiating system of grabens and a circumferential system of wrinkle ridges that extends over the entire western hemisphere of Mars. This region is perhaps the largest and most long lived tectonic and volcanic province of any of the terrestrial planets with a well-preserved history of magmatic-driven activity that began in the Noachian and has lasted throughout Martian geologic time. Tharsis and the surrounding regions comprise numerous components, including volcanic constructs of varying sizes and extensive lava flow fields, large igneous plateaus, fault and ridge systems of varying extent and relative age of formation, gigantic outflow channel systems, vast system of canyons, and local and regional centers of tectonic activity. Many of these centers are interpreted to be the result of magmatic-related activity, including uplift, faulting, dike emplacement, volcanism, and local hydrothermal activity. Below we present a summary of our work for Tharsis focusing primarily on the earliest stage of development, the Noachian period. Here we hone in on the early centers and how they relate to the early development of the Tharsis Magmatic Complex (TMC).
Document ID
20010122730
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Anderson, R. C.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Dohm, J. M.
(Arizona Univ. AZ United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Field Trip and Workshop on the Martian Highlands and Mojave Desert Analogs
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Document Inquiry

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available