P055-0009
Survey of Olympia Undae and Scandia Cavi geological landforms. Northern Polar Region of Mars.

Monday, 14 December 2020
Poster
Marina Sanchez-Bayton, Universidad Complutense de Madrid UCM, Madrid, Madrid, Spain, Miguel Herraiz, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain, Beatriz Sanchez-Cano, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom, Patrick Martin, European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) European Space Agency (ESA), Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Canada, Spain, Erwan Tréguier, Formerly at ESAC (European Space Astronomy Centre), Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain and Akos Kereszturi, Konkoly Observatory, Astrophysical and Geochemical Laboratory, Budapest, Hungary
Abstract:
In this study, we focus on the identification of the characteristics and possible origin of distinct positive topographic landforms located in Scandia Cavi and Olympia Undae [1]. These are two regions close to the northern polar cap of Mars and are of special interest because of the potential joint presence of volcanism, glacial and aeolian processes, and dunes with gypsum deposits, which could be related to the past presence of liquid water there. The goal of this study is to investigate whether and where such processes occur as they can clarify the geological evolution of the area.

We use images from Mars Express and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, as well as MOLA topographic profiles from Mars Global Surveyor to investigate 201 small and medium-size landforms in these two regions. These landforms present a priori similar characteristics, such as sizes and forms, but their origin might not be the same. A detailed analysis of images and morphometric parameters of these landforms has allowed their classification into 3 groups. The first one is “landforms with crater”, which is formed by the so-called cratered cones, impact craters, and landforms with undifferentiated crated features. The second group is “landforms without crater”, which is designated by the so-called simple and peaked domes. The third group is the “mixed landforms” that is formed by big irregular structures with mixed characteristics of the previous two groups.

Different possible origins for these landforms are discussed such as impact, aeolian, glacial and volcanic processes. The possible implications for relationships between an available volcanic heat source nearby water ice and gypsum deposits make the area particularly interesting toward further constraining the region’s geology.

References

[1] Sánchez-Bayton et al., Morphological analyses of small and medium size landforms in Scandia Cavi and Olympia Undae, North Polar Region of Mars, under review at Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets

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