Annual Planetary Geologic Mappers Meeting (2016) 7014.pdf

Completion and Submission of the Terra Sirenum Map Project Robert. C. Andersona, James M. Dohmb, S. Robbinsc, and J. Schroedera, aJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, bThe Museum, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan, cLaboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado USA.

Introduction: The Terra Sirenum region, which is and ranges; the basin and ranges are similar to located to the southwest of Tharsis, records not those of the Basin & Range, southwest United only the development of the Tharsis magmatic States [9, 10]. In the case of the Earth, both complex, at least since the Middle Noachian [1-3] magmatic upwelling and plate tectonism are up to present-day, but just as importantly, contains hypothesized to have contributed to the Basin & some of the oldest stratigraphic units of the Range. western hemisphere region of Mars. Detailed examination of the structures and units within this The basins and ranges of the Memnonia-Sirenum region provided an excellent window into region are interpreted to have formed pre-Tharsis identifying the tectonic processes that influenced and/or early Tharsis magmatic upwelling [9, 10]; the ancient (pre-Tharsis) phase of the geologic pre-Tharsis activity would have occurred during an evolution of Mars. Here, we present an overview early phase of Martian evolution when the dynamo from our mapping effort detailing the status of our and associated magnetosphere were still in mapping project. operation, based on stratigraphy, cross-cutting relations, crater statistics, and paleomagnetic data. Mapping Status: We have completed a detailed Subsequently, the basins have acted as a long-term 1:5,000,000-scale geologic map of the Terra catchment of water and rock materials, evidenced Sirenum region (referred to hereafter as the through the geomorphology and CRISM-based Memnonia-Sirenum region), which includes geochemistry. Evidence of this includes Mangala mapping stratigraphic units and identifying Valles sourcing from a Tharsis-centered fault of tectonic, erosional, depositional, and impact Memnonia Fossae and the identification of structures (see Figure below). We followed the phyllosilicates and chloride salt deposits. Highly procedure for mapping surface units defined by [4] degraded massifs with well-developed valley and [5]. Stratigraphic units were differentiated networks have been identified and interpreted to be based on both stratigraphic (crosscutting, overlap, ancient volcanic constructs formed during the early and embayment) and contact relations and development of the rift systems. morphologic characteristics. High resolution MOC, NA, CTX, HiRise, and HRSC data were utilized to The formation of Tharsis contributed significantly compile the geologic map information. to the geologic history of the Memnonia-Sirenum map region, including the emplacement of lava Crater statistics have been completed for our map flows prominent in the region’s northeast and east- units of the Terra Sirenum region using a new central parts. To the east and northeast of the map global impact crater database [6-7]. In addition, all region, the evolution of Tharsis included the impact craters with diameters ≥ 3 km were formation of igneous plateaus, volcanoes, lava manually examined to identify only those flow fields, and fault, rift, and ridge systems, superposed on the most recent resurfaced terrains dating back to the Middle Noachian. (those impact craters that display pristine rims and ejecta blankets and well-defined, bowl-shaped Ensuing growth of Tharsis and related inundations basins with little to no infill that have no visible in the northern plains contributed to the present- evidence of volcanic, fluvial, and tectonic day, Basin & Range-like topography, including a resurfacing). The superposed impact craters were subsequent stage of basin formation and verified through ConTeXt camera images where subsidence. The latest stage of basin formation, for there was coverage [8]. example, is pronounced through the central basin, with subsidence linked to the formation of Hypothesized Geologic History of the Memnonia- Mangala Valles at the basin’s northern end and Sirenum Region: Dynamic geologic activity contemporaneous in time with major Stage 4 (Late identified within this region includes the formation Hesperian-Early Amazonian) Tharsis activity; the of large (hundreds to over a thousand kilometers central basin is the lowest standing part of the map long) north trending, structurally controlled basins region and contains the lowest density of impact Annual Planetary Geologic Mappers Meeting (2016) 7014.pdf

craters of any of the north-trending, structurally Superplumes: beyond plate tectonics. D.A Yuen, S. controlled basins. Similar to the prominent Maruyama, S-I Karato, and B.F. Windley (eds.). Mangala Valles, which sources at a Tharsis- Springer, London, 523-537. [4] Scott, D.H., and centered fault of Memnonia Fossae, aqueous Tanaka, K.L. (1986) USGS Misc. Inv. Ser. Map I- activity including the formation of valley networks, 1802-A (1:15,000,000). [5] Tanaka, K.L., et al., collapse depressions, pit-crater chains, and vent 2014. USGS Map Scientific Investigations Map structures such as candidate mud volcanoes 3292. [4] Dohm, J.M.et al. (2002) Lunar Planet. manifested along the Tharsis-centered fault Sci. XXXIII, 1639 (abstract). [6] Robbins, S.J., systems even into geologically recent time (Late 2011. Ph.D. Thesis, CU, Boulder. Robbins, S., Amazonian). and Hynek, B., [7] Robbins, S.J.; and Hynek, B.M., 2011. Submitted to JGR-Planets. doi: References. [1] Dohm, J.M., et al., 2001. J. 10.1029/2011JE003966. [8] Malin, M.C., et al., Geophys. Res. 106, 32 943-32 958. [2] Anderson, 2007. J. Geophys. Res. 112, doi: R.C., et al., 2001. J. Geophys. Res. 106, 20,563- 10.1029/2006JE002808. [9] Karasözen et al., 2015, 20,585. [3] Dohm, J.M., et al., 2007. In in review. [10] Anderson et al., 2015 in review.

-165° -160° -155° -150° -145° -140° -135° -130° -15° CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS

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Figure 2. Merged Daytime THEMIS with MOLA topography using Geographic Information Systems detailing north-trending basins and ranges many of which are aligned by faults (black lines), including hypothesized stages of basin formation including subsidence (white 1-4). Note that Mangala Valles (M.V., 4, white arrow indicates direction of flooding) sources from a Tharsis-centered fault of the Memnonia Fossae (8A), which cuts the northern part of the central basin (2-3) of the north trending, Basin & Range-like (i.e., southwestern United States) system of basin and ranges. Stage 3 subsidence of the central basin, and possibly 2, may be linked to outflow flooding Mangala Valles, with subsidence particularly evident through the violet color in both the central basin and the smaller structurally-controlled Figure 1. Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter Map showing the nomenclature and general locations basin in the west-central part of the figure. The Sirenum Fossae is yet another Tharsis- of features of interest. An approximate location of the highland-lowland boundary is also centered system of faults that transect the basins and ranges, also marking structurally- DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS shown (dashed line), with the northern plains located to the north of the Memnonia-Sirenum controlled, aqueous activity in the form of valley networks, collapse depressions, and pit map region (black outline) and the Tharsis to the east-northeast. Also distinct is Claritas rise crater chains (8T and 8B). of the northwestern part of the Himalayas-long mountain range, Thaumasia highlands. In the Memnonia-Sirenum region, note that Mangala Valles sources from a Tharsis-centered fault of the Memnonia Fossae which cuts the northern part of the central basin of the north- ANhb3 Amazonian Noachian highland basin 3 trending, Basin & Range-like (i.e., southwestern United States) system of basin and ranges. The Sirenum Fossae is yet another Tharsis-centered system of faults that transect the basins HNhb2 Hesperian Noachian highland basin 2 and ranges, also marking structurally-controlled, aqueous activity in the form of valley networks, collapse depressions, and pit crater chains. HNhb1r Hesperian Noachian highland basin 1 rough HNhb1s Hesperian Noachian highland basin 1 smooth

-25° -25° Nh3 Noachian highland 3 Nh2 Noachian highland 2 Nh1 Noachian highland 1 AHThv Amazonian Hesperian Tharsis volcanic eHThv Early Hesperian Tharsis volcanic C2 Young crater materials C1 Old crater materials Cfs Smooth crater floor materials Cp Central peak D1 Dome, member 1 D2 Dome, member 2

Figure 4. Close up region showing two set of graben intersecting. Although the crater counts of these units are incomplete, Trend 1 is stratigraphically younger than Trend 2 by its -30° -30° crosscutting relationship.

EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS Linear Features

( ( ( Pit chain

Sinuous channel or groove

Channel (fluvial)

Crest of buried crater

Crest of crater rim > 25 km

Fault, certain Figure 3. (Top) THEMIS IR daytime image detailing Mangala Valles sourcing from a fault of Fault, approximate Memnonia Fossae (white arrow), as well as narrow ridges (green arrow) which could mark dikes that underpin the fault or remnants of floor materials of the central basin exposed by ! ! ! Graben trace, modified Mangala Valles flooding and associated differential erosion. In addition, elongated depression and fracture systems (red arrows) are interpreted to be collapse features resulting from structurally controlled subterranean migration of volatiles including evacuation related to -35° -35° ! Graben trace, approx. Mangala Valles flooding. These points to water-enrichment including groundwater aquifers associated with the north trending basins. (Bottom) THEMIS IR daytime image detailing ! Graben trace, certain elongated depressions and pit crater chains (red arrows), and valley networks along Sirenum Fossae (blue arrow), including rough infill deposits such as in the case of the largest central

ý elongated basin. The highlighted interaction among Tharsis-induced faulting and the Groove north-trending central basin indicates water-enrichment in the subsurface including the potential for groundwater systems related to the structurally-controlled, north-trending basins. Figure 5. Magnetic data overlain on MOLA topography with the geologic units defined by Lineament Anderson et al., in preparation. Magnetic highs can be seen associated with the older basement structures. The basins and their associated infill deposits are generally in agreement with gravity lows indicating the presence of low density materials, whereas X Ridge crest (type 1), certain some of the ranges are in general agreement with gravity highs suggesting a degree of flexural support.

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NASA, JPL, USGS, DLL, UoA, ASU, CU, OSU, Brown University, Goddard, AMES, SIRENUM MERCATOR; MARS 2000 SPHERE PDS,

SCALE: 1:5,000,000 Figure 6. Terra Sirenum area of detail located along the southwestern flank of Tharsis.

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KILOMETERS

Geologic Map of the Terra Sirenum Region, Mars

By Robert C. Anderson, James Dohm and Jeffrey F. Schroeder 2016