Abstract
The depths of 109 impact craters ∼2–16 km in diameter, located on the ridged plains materials of Hesperia Planum, Mars, have been measured from their shadow lengths using digital Viking Orbiter images (orbit numbers 417S–419S) and the PICS computer software. On the basis of their pristine morphology (very fresh lobate ejecta blankets, well preserved rim crests, and lack of superposed impact craters), 57 of these craters have been selected for detailed analysis of their spatial distribution and geometry. We find that south of 30°S, craters <6.0 km in diameter are markedly shallower than similar-sized craters equatorward of this latitude. No comparable relationship is observed for morphologically fresh craters >6.0 km diameter. We also find that two populations exist for older craters <6.0 km diameter. When craters that lack ejecta blankets are grouped on the basis of depth/diameter ratio, the deeper craters also typically lie equatorward of 30° S. We interpret the spatial variation in crater depth/diameter ratios as most likely due to a poleward increase in volatiles within the top 400 m of the surface at the times these craters were formed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Barlow, N. G. and Bradley, T. L.: 1990, ‘Martian Impact Craters: Correlations of Ejecta and Interior Morphologies with Diameter, Latitude, and Terrain’,Icarus 87, 156–179.
Boyce, J. M.: 1979, ‘A Method for Measuring Heat Flow in the Martian Crust Using Impact Crater Morphology’, Rpts. Planet. Geol. Prog. 1978–1979, NASA TM-80339, pp. 114–118.
Carr, M. H., Crumpler, L. S., Cutts, J. A., Greeley, R., Guest, J. E., and Masursky, H.: 1977, ‘Martian Impact Craters and Emplacement of Ejecta by Surface Flow’,J. Geophys. Res. 82, 4055–4065.
Cintala, M. J. and Mouginis-Mark, P. J.: 1980, ‘Martian Fresh Crater Depths: More Evidence for Subsurface Volatiles’,Geophys. Res. Lettrs. 7, 329–332.
De Hon, R. A.: 1985, ‘Thickness of Ridged Plains Materials in Hesperia Planum’, Mars, Rpt. Plan. Geol. Prog., 1984, NASA TM-87563, pp. 242–244.
Fanale, F. P.: 1976, ‘Martian Volatiles: their Degassing History and Geochemical Fate’,Icarus 28, 179–202.
Fanale, F. P., Salvail, J. R., Zent, A. P., and Postawko, S. E.: 1986, ‘Global Distribution and Migration of Subsurface Ice on Mars’,Icarus 67, 1–18.
Greeley, R. and Guest J. E.: 1987, ‘Geologic Map of the Eastern Equatorial Region of Mars’, U.S. Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Map I-1802-B.
Hayashi-Smith, J. and Mouginis-Mark, P. J.: 1990, ‘Morphology of Fresh Impact Craters in Hesperia Planum, Mars’,Lunar Planet. Sci. XXI, 475–476 (abstract).
Hörtz, F., Ostertag, R. and Rainey, D. A.: 1983, ‘Bunte Breccia of the Ries: Continuous Deposits of Large Impact Craters’,Revs. Geophys. Space Phys. 21, 1667–1725.
Kieffer, S. W. and Simonds, C. H.: 1980, ‘The Role of Volatiles and Lithology in the Impact Cratering Process’,Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 18, 143–181.
Mouginis-Mark, P. J.: 1979, ‘Martian Fluidized Crater Morphology: Variations with Crater Size, Latitude, Altitude, and Target Material’,J. Geophys. Res. 84, 8011–8022.
Mouginis-Mark, P. J.: 1981, ‘Ejecta Emplacement and Modes of Formation of Martian Fluidized Ejecta Craters’,Icarus 45, 60–76.
Pieters, C. M.: 1982, ‘Copernicus Crater Central Peak: Lunar Mountain of Unique Composition’,Science 215, 59–61.
Pike, R. J.: 1980, ‘Control of Crater Morphology by Gravity and Target Type: Mars, Earth, Moon’,Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 11th, pp. 2159–2189.
Robinson, M. S.: 1990, ‘Precise Topographic Measurements of Apollinaris and Tyrrhena Paterae, Mars’,Lunar Planet. Sci. XXI, 1027–1028 (abstract).
Stoffler, D., Gault, D. E., Wedekind, J., and Polkowski, G.: 1975, ‘Experimental Hypervelocity Impact into Quartz Sand: Distribution and Shock Metamorphism of Ejecta’,J. Geophys. Res. 80, 4062–4077.
Wood, C. A., Head, J. W., and Cintala, M. J.: 1978, ‘Interior Morphology of Fresh Martian Craters: The Effects of Target Characteristics’,Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., 9th, pp. 3691–3709.
Zuber, M. T., Smith, D. E., Solomon, S. C., Muhleman, D. O., Head, J. W., Garvin, J. B., Abshire, J. B., and Bufton, J. L.: 1992, ‘The Mars Observer Laser Altimeter Investigation’,J. Geophys. Res. 97, 7781–7797.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mouginis-Mark, P.J., Hayashi, J.N. Shallow and deep fresh impact craters in Hesperia Planum, Mars. Earth Moon Planet 61, 1–20 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00619135
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00619135