Evidence for extensive denudation of the Martian highlands

Research Article| May 01, 2001 Evidence for extensive denudation of the Martian highlands Brian M. Hynek; Brian M. Hynek 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Roger J. Phillips Roger J. Phillips 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Brian M. Hynek 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA Roger J. Phillips 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 06 Oct 2000 Revision Received: 04 Jan 2001 Accepted: 15 Jan 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (5): 407–410. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0407:EFEDOT>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 06 Oct 2000 Revision Received: 04 Jan 2001 Accepted: 15 Jan 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Brian M. Hynek, Roger J. Phillips; Evidence for extensive denudation of the Martian highlands. Geology 2001;; 29 (5): 407–410. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0407:EFEDOT>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract High-resolution topographic data from the Mars Orbiter laser altimeter reveal evidence for widespread denudation from Margaritifer Sinus to northern Arabia Terra, an area of ∼1 × 107 km2. A major resurfacing event is indicated by: (1) a heavily degraded landscape hosting numerous inliers, (2) truncation or absence of valley networks, and (3) a break in slope at the edge of early to middle Noachian plateau materials. Geomorphic mapping was completed on the type locale of denudation (0°–30°S, 0°–30°W). Superposition relations and crater counts for geomorphic units indicate that large-scale resurfacing took place in the late Noachian, eroding the Martian highlands and resulting in transportation and deposition of ∼4.5 × 106 km3 of sediment in the northern plains. This is equivalent to a 120-m-thick uniform layer of sediment on the surface of Mars north of 30°N. Geomorphic mapping and crater counts limit the timing of denudation to the late Noachian, an interval of 350–500 m.y. Using this limit, we estimate a minimum rate of denudation of 2.0 μm/yr, comparable to denudation of typical slopes in a temperate maritime climate on Earth. The morphology, rate of denudation, and extensive nature of upland degradation suggest that precipitation-fed surface runoff is the most likely geomorphic agent capable of such a process, indicative of a warm, wet Mars during the late Noachian Epoch. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.