Morphometric Analysis and Emplacement Dynamics of Folded Terrains at Avernus Colles, Mars

Folded, arcuate terrains on the surface of Mars provide insight into the volcanic properties of surface materials and emplacement dynamics. This research focused on the analysis of folded terrains in the chaotic-terrain Avernus Colles region, located near Elysium Planitia, using images from the Mars Odyssey Orbiter and altimetry data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA). The combined data revealed areas of deformation, which is inferred to be the result of compressions and possibly collapse from the late Amazonian period. We identified and measured 19 distinct folds, with morphometric wavelengths ranging from 0.7 to 1.75 km. These measurements were applied to a simple two-layer regolith model to better understand the folding patterns observed. The model suggests that these folds could have formed with an upper viscous boundary layer less than 0.55 km thick and strain rates approximately 10−7 s−1. These strain rates indicate that the deformation of the terrains likely occurred over a relatively short period of time, ranging from 16 to 38 days. By studying these deformation patterns, we can enhance our understanding of the volcanic history and surface processes on Mars, offering insight into the planet’s geologic evolution and material properties.