T277 Geomorphology and Landscape Evolution of Mars: The G.K. Gilbert Award Session (Posters)

Tuesday, 24 October 2017
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Halls 4EF

MAPPING THE PREVIOUS EXTENT OF THE MEDUSAE FOSSAE FORMATION, MARS

Paper number: T277-1
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

The Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF), Mars, is an unconformable deposit that covers ~2.1 x 106 km2 of the Martian surface, stretching discontinuously for over 5,000 km between 135 and 235°E and 10°N and 10°S. The thicknesses of present-day MFF outcrops range from tens to thousands of meters. MFF is characterized by internal layering and displays abundant yardangs. Terrestrial yardangs are common in ignimbrites, suggesting that the MFF is composed of similarly fine-grained and differentially indurated materials. The presence of outliers of MFF around the continuous outcrops, and the presence of yardangs, are consistent with the interpretation that the MFF previously covered a larger area, but aeolian processes have eroded the MFF to its current extent. These MFF outliers have yet to be mapped, quantified, or used to interpolate the previous extent of the MFF. Here, we use high-resolution (<25 m/pixel) visible images (primarily Thermal Emission Imaging Spectrometer and Context Camera images) to search for and systematically map MFF outliers. Preliminary results suggest that the MFF once covered an area at least twice that of the contemporary extent. More complete mapping of MFF outliers will be used to constrain erosion rates on the Martian surface.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 49, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2017AM-300295

© Copyright 2017 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.