Open AccessDikes provide insight into early history of Mars
Author(s) -
Balcerak Ernie
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2011eo390006
Subject(s) - dike , mars exploration program , geology , canyon , crust , amazonian , astrobiology , geochemistry , geomorphology , physics , ecology , amazon rainforest , biology
New observations from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) show the presence of multiple magmatic intrusions in the Valles Marineris canyon on Mars. Flahaut et al. determined the composition of these dikes using CRISM data. They found that the composition and distribution of the dikes in ancient crust in the lower walls of Valles Marineris suggest that they were formed early in the history of Mars and may have played a significant role in the formation of the Valles Marineris. ( Geophysical Research Letters , doi:10.1029/2011GL048109, 2011)