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A possible plate tectonic explanation for the northern lowlands. The Boreal plate is shown in yellow. Trenches are shown by toothed lines, ridges by double lines, and transform faults by single lines, modified from Sleep, 1994. [11] Endogenic hypotheses include the possibility of a very early plate tectonic phase on Mars. [11]
Valles Marineris (/ ˈ v æ l ɪ s m ær ɪ ˈ n ɛər ɪ s /; [1] Latin for Mariner Valleys, named after the Mariner 9 Mars orbiter of 1971–72 which discovered it) is a system of canyons that runs along the Martian surface east of the Tharsis region. [2]
Tectonic boundaries have been discovered on Mars. Valles Marineris is a horizontally sliding tectonic boundary that divides two major partial or complete plates of Mars. The recent finding suggests that Mars is geologically active with occurrences in the millions of years.
A marsquake is a quake which, much like an earthquake, is a shaking of the surface or interior of the planet Mars. Such quakes may occur with a shift in the planet's interior, such as the result of plate tectonics, from which most quakes on Earth originate, or possibly from hotspots such as Olympus Mons or the Tharsis Montes.
Alba's tectonic features are almost entirely extensional, [52] consisting of normal faults, graben and tension cracks. The most common extensional features on Alba Mons (and Mars in general) are simple graben. Graben are long, narrow troughs bound by two inward-facing normal faults that enclose a downfaulted block of crust (pictured right).
Tharsis (/ ˈ θ ɑːr s ɪ s /) is a vast volcanic plateau centered near the equator in the western hemisphere of Mars. [note 1] The region is home to the largest volcanoes in the Solar System, including the three enormous shield volcanoes Arsia Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Ascraeus Mons, which are collectively known as the Tharsis Montes.
Tharsis Tholus has a complex volcano-tectonic history. The edifice has been modified by at least four distinct episodes of structural deformation. [ 6 ] The most prominent area of deformation is the central caldera complex, which consists of an outer, older caldera and an inner, younger one.
Pavonis Mons / p ə ˈ v oʊ n ɪ s ˈ m ɒ n z / [2] (Latin for "peacock mountain") is a large shield volcano located in the Tharsis region of the planet Mars.It is the middle member of a chain of three volcanic mountains (collectively known as the Tharsis Montes) that straddle the Martian equator between longitudes 235°E and 259°E.