See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: The Geology of Small Volcanic Vents and Their Associated Vent Fields throughout the Solar System
Abstract:
Gravity observations provide additional constraints on the structure of these volcanic fields. Existing gravity data resolves the regional structure in the volcanic fields but not individual domes. In the Marius Hills, the maximum free-air anomaly of 183 mGal (at spherical harmonic degree 70) occurs near the densest concentrations of domes. Less than 30% of the gravity anomaly is due to the surface topography. Most of the observed gravity anomaly in the Marius Hills is due to buried, high density material. In this regard, the Marius Hills are similar to some highland volcanos on Mars such as Syrtis Major and Tyrrhena Patera (Kiefer, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 2004). The density contrast that produces the Marius Hills anomaly is most likely due to basalt that fills pore space in the brecciated highland crust beneath the volcanic field. Thus, the gravity observations constrain the overall thickness and volume of volcanic activity in the Marius Hills. For plausible density values, the volcanic unit is at least 3 to 4 kilometers thick. In Aristarchus, the gravity high (108 mGal) is offset to the south-east from the topographic peak. It appears likely that buried, high density material occurs near the gravity maximum. On-going work will quantify the thickness and lateral distribution of this material.
See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: The Geology of Small Volcanic Vents and Their Associated Vent Fields throughout the Solar System