We analyzed a small cone field in SW Utopia Planitia that shows striking similarities to volcanic rift zones on Earth. This is of particular interest as the study area lies off any of the volcanic centers of Mars in the northern hemisphere lowlands and is surrounded by material of the Amazonian aged Vastitas Borealis Formation (VBF). We believe that the study area could be the first direct evidence for volcanic activity in Utopia Planitia prior to the resurfacing by VBF material. The most striking characteristics that we observed are (1) a set of broad eruptive fissures showing signs of ongoing extension during cone formation, (2) parallel dike swarms, (3) magmatic intrusions, and (4) a number of lava flows that have erupted from the fissures and pitted cones that surround a larger cone in the center of the study area and that are often associated with, or aligned along, the fissures and dikes. Cratering model ages indicate that the study area is of Late Noachian to Early Hesperian age and is thus distinctly older than the surrounding VBF, falling into the time frame of the main phases of activity in the volcanic centers of Syrtis Major, Elysium Planitia, and the southern highlands.

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The Quaternary Bandas del Sur Formation in the south of Tenerife comprises a complex sequence of pyroclastic rocks and lavas. In contrast to the NW-and NE-Rift zone on Tenerife, the S-Rift zone comprises a number of characteristics with respect to the morphological features, eruption cyclicity and the geochemistry of the volcanic deposits. Various flank eruptions of the Las Cañadas volcano associated with basaltic lavas and the formation of cinder cones within the Bandas del Sur are important volcanic units for understanding the explosive volcanic cycles during the Pleistocene on Tenerife. A number of palaeomagnetic studies, as well as major and trace element geochemistry and two radio-isotope dates (K-Ar), have been carried out on prominent cinder cones, in order to discover their stratigraphic position. Combining our results with previous K-Ar data, the cones and lavas can be subdivided into three stratigraphic units. The first unit contains cinder cones with reverse magnetization and Y/Nb ratios between 0.37 and 0.41. Cinder cones which belong to the second unit show normal magnetization and Y/Nb ratios of < 0.35. The third unit comprises cinder cones with normal magnetization and Y/Nb ratios of about 0.47. The first two units were constructed between c. 0.948-0.779 Ma and 0.323-0.300 Ma. These units define volcanic cycles ending in violent Plinian eruptions. The third and youngest unit possibly marks the beginning of a further volcanic cycle that started c. 0.095 Ma ago.

Abstract-The fall of meteorites has been interpreted as divine messages by multitudinous cultures since prehistoric times, and meteorites are still adored as heavenly bodies. Stony meteorites were used to carve birds and other works of art; jewelry and knifes were produced of meteoritic iron for instance by the Inuit society. We here present an approximately 10.6 kg Buddhist sculpture (the ''iron man'') made of an iron meteorite, which represents a particularity in religious art and meteorite science. The specific contents of the crucial main (Fe, Ni, Co) and trace (Cr, Ga, Ge) elements indicate an ataxitic iron meteorite with high Ni contents (approximately 16 wt%) and Co (approximately 0.6 wt%) that was used to produce the artifact. In addition, the platinum group elements (PGEs), as well as the internal PGE ratios, exhibit a meteoritic signature. The geochemical data of the meteorite generally match the element values known from fragments of the Chinga ataxite (ungrouped iron) meteorite strewn field discovered in 1913. The provenance of the meteorite as well as of the piece of art strongly points to the border region of eastern Siberia and Mongolia, accordingly. The sculpture possibly portrays the Buddhist god Vais´ravana and might originate in the Bon culture of the eleventh century. However, the ethnological and art historical details of the ''iron man'' sculpture, as well as the timing of the sculpturing, currently remain speculative.