Chronologic Studies of Lava Flow Fields in the Southern Tharsis Region of Mars

Abstract:

The current investigation examines the styles and sequences of volcanism in the southern Tharsis region of Mars. High-resolution images are being used to produce geologic and flow field maps of the region south of Arsia Mons and in Daedalia Planum. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Context Camera (CTX; ~5 m/pixel) images allow reconstruction of complex volcanic surfaces, including delineation of individual flow lobes and superposition relationships within a flow field. Flow field mapping reveals complex flow patterns and local interfingering and overlapping relationships. Populations of small, superposed impact craters are used to derive relative and absolute age constraints for individual flows and flow sequences.

Mapping has revealed differences in flow morphology, flow age, and flow surface texture across the region. Results to-date show a general progression from younger (~100 My-old) flows with elongate, sinuous morphologies to the northeast (closer to Arsia Mons) to older (~500 My- to ~1 Gy-old) broader lobes and sheet flows to the southwest. At the southern margin of the Tharsis region, older (~3.7 Gy) volcanic plains have been identified where Tharis flows contact the ancient highlands.