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Inversion of topography in Martian highlands terrainsOne unique feature on Mars is the presence of ring furrows which are apparently produced by inversion of topography at the rims of partially buried craters. Ring furrows are flat-floored trenches, circular in plan view, forming rings 7 to 50 km in diameter. The moat is on the order of 0.5 km deep and 2 to 10 km wide, and it surrounds a flat topped circular mesa or plateau that is 5 to 40 km across. The central plateau is at the same elevation or lower than the surrounding plain outside the ring. The circular nature and size range of ring furrows tend to suggest that these features are related to craters partially buried by younger lava flows. The rings have been formed by preferential removal of the exposed crater rims. Ground ice decay, sapping, or fluvial erosion removed the less resistant, porous material of crater rims while leaving the more resistant volcanic flow material. Differential erosion has thus led to a reversal of topography in which the original positive relief of the rim is reduced to a negative relief feature.
Document ID
19840015444
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Dehon, R. A.
(University of Northeast Louisiana Monroe, LA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Washington Rept. of Planetary Geology Program, 1983
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
84N23512
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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