Global inventory of fluvial ridges on Earth and lessons applicable to Mars

Zaki, Abdallah S.; Pain, C. F.; Edgett, K. S.; Castelltort, Sébastien

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103561

Cited by 26 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 177 publications

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“… McFadden et al, 1987 ). The formation of inverted channels in many arid environments is attributed to this clast-armoring mechanism (e.g., Maizels, 1990 ; Miller et al, 2018 ; Zaki et al, 2018 , 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is the first documented site, to our knowledge, of co-located inverted channels with different induration mechanisms and formation scenarios. In a literature review of >100 inverted channel examples on Earth, Zaki et al (2021) found that nearly a quarter are channels filled by volcanic materials, relatively few cases are gravel-capped ridges (<10%), and the majority are cemented fluvial deposits (includes surface and subsurface cementation). This study adds to the inventory of terrestrial inverted channels with two types that are co-located on a bajada: gravel-capped and sulfate-capped.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Inverted channel variations identified on a distal portion of a bajada in the central Atacama Desert, Chile

et al. 2021

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In deserts, the interplay between occasional fluvial events and persistent aeolian erosion can form composite modern and relict surfaces, especially on the distal portion of alluvial fans. There, relief inversion of alluvial deposits by differential erosion can form longitudinal ridges. We identified two distinct ridge types formed by relief inversion on converging alluvial fans in the hyperarid Chilean Atacama Desert. Although they are co-located and similar in scale, the ridge types have different ages and formation histories that apparently correspond to minor paleoclimate variations. Gravel-armored ridges are remnants of deflated alluvial deposits with a bimodal sediment distribution (gravel and sand) dated to a minor pluvial phase at the end of the Late Pleistocene (~12 kyr). In contrast, younger (~9 kyr) sulfate-capped ridges formed during a minor arid phase with evaporite deposition in a pre-existing channel that armored the underlying deposits. Collectively, inverted channels at Salar de Llamara resulted from multiple episodes of surface overland flow and standing water spanning several thousand years. Based on ridge relief and age, the minimum long-term deflation rate is 0.1–0.2 m/kyr, driven primarily by wind erosion. This case study is an example of the equifinality concept whereby different processes lead to similar landforms. The complex history of the two ridge types can only be generally constrained in remotely sensed data. In situ observations are required to discern the specifics of the aqueous history, including the flow type, magnitude, sequence, and paleoenvironment. These findings have relevance for interpreting similar landforms on Mars.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inverted channel variations identified on a distal portion of a bajada in the central Atacama Desert, Chile

et al. 2021

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“…Therefore, Equation 1 has been used to calculate depositional timespans for a number of fan deposits on Mars (e.g., Kleinhans et al, 2010;Morgan et al, 2014), but these timespans are uncertain because the intermittency factor is poorly constrained. Although fluvial ridges have been identified across Earth (Zaki et al, 2021), studies have yet to reconstruct the intermittency factor from observations of ridge-bearing terrestrial fans.…”

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confidence: 99%

The Oligocene‐Miocene Guadalope‐Matarranya Fan, Spain, as an Analog for Long‐Lived, Ridge‐Bearing Megafans on Mars

et al. 2021

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“…None of the deposits, associated features, and surrounding bedrock exposures has escaped erosion by wind, given that many are debris ridges and stand high above the surrounding wall rocks (e.g., GV1). They thus fall into the category of inverted channels or ridges found in many other places on Mars (e.g., Pain et al, 2007;Williams et al, 2007;Zaki et al, 2021).…”

Section: Conceptual Models For Producing the Debris Depositsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canyon Wall and Floor Debris Deposits in Aeolis Mons, Mars

et al. 2022

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Aeolis Mons (informally, Mount Sharp) exhibits a number of canyons, including Gediz and Sakarya Valles. Poorly sorted debris deposits are evident on both canyon floors and connect with debris extending down the walls for canyon segments that cut through sulphate‐bearing strata. On the floor of Gediz Vallis, debris overfills a central channel and merges with a massive debris ridge located at the canyon terminus. One wall‐based debris ridge is evident. In comparison, the floor of Sakarya Vallis exhibits a complex array of debris deposits. Debris deposits on wall segments within Sakarya Vallis are mainly contained within chutes that extend downhill from scarps. Lateral debris ridges are also evident on chute margins. We interpret the debris deposits in the two canyons to be a consequence of one or more late‐stage hydrogeomorphic events that increased the probability of landslides, assembled and channelized debris on the canyon floors, and moved materials down‐canyon. The highly soluble nature of the sulphate‐bearing rocks likely contributed to enhanced debris generation by concurrent aqueous weathering to produce blocky regolith for transport downslope by fluvial activity and landslides, including some landslides that became debris flows. Subsequent wind erosion in Gediz Vallis removed most of the debris deposits within that canyon and partially eroded the deposits within Sakarya Vallis. The enhanced wind erosion within Gediz Vallis was a consequence of the canyon's alignment with prevailing slope winds.

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Global inventory of fluvial ridges on Earth and lessons applicable to Mars

Cited by 26 publications

References 177 publications

Inverted channel variations identified on a distal portion of a bajada in the central Atacama Desert, Chile

Inverted channel variations identified on a distal portion of a bajada in the central Atacama Desert, Chile

The Oligocene‐Miocene Guadalope‐Matarranya Fan, Spain, as an Analog for Long‐Lived, Ridge‐Bearing Megafans on Mars

Canyon Wall and Floor Debris Deposits in Aeolis Mons, Mars

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