Title Information
Title
Mars Volcanic Evolution: Spectroscopic Analysis of Igneous Compositions
Name: Personal
Name Part
Skok, John Roma
Role
Role Term: Text
creator
Origin Information
Copyright Date
2013
Physical Description
Extent
xviii, 249 p.
digitalOrigin
born digital
Note
Thesis (Ph.D. -- Brown University (2013)
Name: Personal
Name Part
Mustard, John
Role
Role Term: Text
Director
Name: Personal
Name Part
Head, James
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
Rutherford, Malcolm
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
Barr, Amy
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
Ruff, Steven
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Corporate
Name Part
Brown University. Geological Sciences
Role
Role Term: Text
sponsor
Genre (aat)
theses
Abstract
Mars is often described as a basaltic planet, one that is dominated by large volcanic complexes that cover much of the surface. However, several key locations were studied here to show that the volcanic story on Mars is much more dynamic and complex than previously thought. To look at the earliest history of Mars, the igneous composition of impact crater central peaks were analyzed. In over two dozen spectrally well-exposed central peaks from across the planet, we see that the deep crust of Mars is formed from segregated olivine and pyroxene cumulates. The olivine range from intermediate to fayalitic composition and the pyroxene is consistent with pigeonite with slight regional variations. These cumulates are considered to be the results of large scale volcanic activity in the early Noachian, potentially related to a mantle overturn, that lead to a layered mafic intrusion forming much of the early crust. Additional igneous diversity was observed in younger terrains in the Nili Patera caldera of the Syrtis Major volcanic complex. Observed here is a previously discovered evolved dacitic lava flow, and the newly described discovery of a spatially related volcanically driven hydrothermal system. This system was driven by the late stage volcanic heating related to the evolved volcanism to create potential hot springs deposits ideally suited for supporting and preserving evidence of life. These examples illustrate the complexity of volcanism on Mars and the reality that it is much more than just the basaltic story exposed over much of the Martian surface. The transition from old terrains to younger volcanics is illustrated in the northeast Syrtis area that has Hesperian volcanism on top of Noachian altered and igneous terrains. The detailed description of a potential fluvial system that bridges this boundary adds to the understanding of the evolution of Martian terrains.
Subject
Topic
Mars
Subject
Topic
Igneous
Subject
Topic
Spectroscopy
Subject
Topic
Hydrothermal
Subject (FAST) (authorityURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast", valueURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1756663")
Topic
Igneous rocks
Subject (FAST) (authorityURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast", valueURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1129108")
Topic
Spectrum analysis
Subject (FAST) (authorityURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast", valueURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1243063")
Geographic
Mars (Planet)
Record Information
Record Content Source (marcorg)
RPB
Record Creation Date (encoding="iso8601")
20131217
Language
Language Term: Code (ISO639-2B)
eng
Language Term: Text
English
Identifier: DOI
10.7301/Z0P55KTP
Access Condition: rights statement (href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/")
In Copyright
Access Condition: restriction on access
Collection is open for research.
Type of Resource (primo)
dissertations