Ancient aqueous sedimentation on Mars

Journal Article · Thu Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(91)90186-W· OSTI ID:5911990

Goldspiel, J M; Squyres, S W ^[1]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)

Viking orbiter images are presently used to calculate approximate volumes for the inflow valleys of the ancient cratered terrain of Mars; a sediment-transport model is then used to conservatively estimate the amount of water required for the removal of this volume of debris from the valleys. The results obtained for four basins with well-developed inflow networks indicate basin sediment thicknesses of the order of tens to hundreds of meters. The calculations further suggest that the quantity of water required to transport the sediment is greater than that which could be produced by a single discharge of the associated aquifer, unless the material of the Martian highlands was very fine-grained and noncohesive to depths of hundreds of meters. 48 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5911990
• Journal Information: Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA), Journal Name: Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA) Vol. 89; ISSN ICRSA; ISSN 0019-1035
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AQUIFERS
EROSION
IMAGES
MAPPING
MARS PLANET
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLANETARY EVOLUTION
PLANETS
SEDIMENTATION
SEDIMENTS
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
SPACE VEHICLES
SURFACES
VEHICLES
VIKING SPACE PROBES