Geology of the Ariadnes Basin, NE Eridania quadrangle, Mars – 1:1Million

Abstract

Here we present a 1:1,000,000 geological map of the Ariadnes basin (31 -388 S, 170-1798 E) (Mars), which is one of the topographic depressions located between Terra Sirenum and Terra Cimmeria in the Martian highlands. This basin is diverse, both in terms of morphology and mineralogy, and it is a site of major interest to study the chronological boundary between the Noachian and Hesperian periods ( 3.71 Ga). However, a detailed map of the area has not yet been published. The map described in this paper was produced through the analysis of recent images and topographic data that allow the definition of the geologic units with unprecedented detail. We distinguished eight units and diverse tectonic and geomorphic features. We also examined the regional stratigraphy by age determination using crater counting in order to constrain the geological history of the Ariadnes basin. The map provides a basis for which later analyses can build understanding of the regional paleoenvironment.

Ancient hydrothermal seafloor deposits in Eridania basin on Mars

“…2 ). These ages are consistent with previous results, which suggest that the Eridania basin-forming impacts occurred >4 Ga, the sea existed in the Late Noachian and was resurfaced by subaerial volcanism in the Late Hesperian 5 12 13 16 . A key new conclusion is that, while all of the Eridania sub-basins likely contained deep water environments, the deposits representing those environments are only well exposed in the western basins.…”

“…The deep basin deposits are unlikely to have formed by air fall as has been previously concluded 12 16 . The younger Electris deposits, which are layered, are of consistent thickness throughout the region (150–200 m), and occur at a wide range of elevations are consistent with an air fall origin 49 .…”

“…Eridania basin is composed of a series of connected, smaller, quasi-circular basins ( Fig. 1 ), which potentially originated as very ancient impacts that were resurfaced by volcanism and erosion early in Mars' history 12 13 . The extent of the Eridania basin was previously defined as the 1,100 m elevation contour around these sub-basins 13 ( Fig.…”

Summary of activities 2014

“…Gridded cartograms as a method for visualising earthquake risk at the global scale. Molina, de Pablo, Hauber, Le Deit, and Fernández-Remolar (2014). Geology of the Ariadnes Basin, NE Eridania quadrangle, Mars -1:1 Million.…”

Diverse Polygonal Patterned Grounds in the Northern Eridania Basin, Mars: Possible Origins and Implications

“…The oldest unit mainly indicates highly degraded highland, in particular the rim of the basin (highly cratered Noachian highland units). The younger unit constitutes ridged plain materials interpreted as lava flows (Hesperian‐Amazonian plains unit of ∼3.3 Ga; Adeli et al., 2015; Molina et al., 2014) covering a broad part of the basin floor and underlain by fluvio‐lacustrine sediments (Noachian‐Hesperian smooth‐light‐toned materials) formed during widespread ponding inside the basin and flooding from groundwater and overland flow (Adeli et al., 2015; Andrews‐Hanna et al., 2007; Kuzmin et al., 2000; Molina et al., 2014). The Hesperian Electris deposits (Grant & Schultz, 1990) are interpreted as aeolian deposits of volcanic material, on which highly degraded scarps, branched and sinuous channels can be recognized locally (Adeli et al., 2015; Pajola et al., 2016).…”