Arabia Terra,Mars: Tectonic and Palaeoclimatic Evolution of a Remarkable Sector of Martian Lithosphere |
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| Authors: | Anguita Francisco Anguita Jorge Castilla Gabriel De La Casa Miguel-Angel Domínguez José-María Herrera Raquel Llanes Pilar López Mónica Martínez Vicente |
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| Institution: | (1) Departamento de Petrología y Geoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain;(2) Departamento de Geofísica, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain;(3) Seminar on Planetary Sciences, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain |
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| Abstract: | A regional geologic study of Arabia Terra, a densely cratered area of Mars northern hemisphere, has revealed the individuality
of this province. This is best expressed by an equatorial belt with a crater age distinctly younger as compared to the northern
part of Arabia Terra and to Noachis Terra to the south. We interpret this as an incipient back-arc system provoked by the
subduction of Mars lowlands under Arabia Terra during Noachian times. The regional fracture patterns are also best explained
in this manner, making it unnecessary to appeal to a rotational instability of the planet, which is not supported by the palaeoclimatic
indicators in the area. This model could be the first regional-scale confirmation of Sleep's (1994) hypothesis of a limited
plate consumption as an explanation of the martian dichotomy.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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| Keywords: | Mars tectonics palaeoclimate plate tectonics |
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