Important role of groundwater springs in shaping Mars

Light Toned Deposits (LTDs) - martian sediments that most closely resemble sediments on Earth - are some of the most mysterious sediments on Mars. Causes for their origin remain unknown. Until now, different mechanisms, including volcanic processes, have been proposed for their formation.

LTDs were first discovered by the Viking spacecraft in the late 1970s and have since been at the centre of scientific debate. These deposits occur on a large scale in Arabia Terra, Chaotic Terrain and Valles Marineris, close to the Tharsis volcanic bulge.

Now, based on Mars Express data, scientists propose that these sediments are actually younger than originally believed. Rossi and colleagues report their findings in a paper published in September this year. They have proposed that several LTDs may have been deposited by large-scale springs of groundwater that burst on to the surface, possibly at different times.

Analysis indicates that ground water had a more wide-ranging and important role in martian history than previously believed. Hydrated minerals, relatively young in age, have been found in the region.

Given that the deposits are relatively young in age, and associated with water, they may also have sheltered microbial life from the drier and harsher climate in more recent times on Mars, possibly eliminating the need for a stable atmosphere or a permanent water body.

These findings appear in 'Large-scale spring deposits on Mars' by A. Rossi, G. Neukum, M. Pondrelli, S. van Gasselt,T. Zegers, E. Hauber, A. Chicarro and B. Foing, was published in August 2008 in the Journal of Geophysical Research.

Credit: A. Rossi (MGS/MOLA data)
High resolution image (1.5 MB)

Global map of Mars indicating areas that show LTD.

These deposits occur on a large scale in the Arabia Terra, Chaotic Terrain and Valles Marineris, close to the Tharsis volcanic bulge, on Mars.




Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
High resolution image (1.4 MB)

Iani Chaos on Mars, an area where Light Toned Deposits, or LTD, are known to be present.

This image was obtained with the High Resolution Stereo Camera on board ESA's Mars Express spacecraft.




Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
High resolution image (1.1 MB)

Crommelin Crater on Mars, an area where Light Toned Deposits, or LTD, are known to be present.

This is a mosaic composed of nadir images taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on board ESA's Mars Express spacecraft.




Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)
High resolution image (1.7 MB)

Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera image of Hebes Chasma.

Hebes Chasma is an enclosed trough, almost 8000 m deep, in Valles Marineris, the Grand Canyon of Mars, showing Light Toned Deposits. This is an area where water is believed to have flowed.

An analysis of data and images from Mars Express suggests that several Light Toned Deposits, some of the least understood structures on Mars, were formed when large amounts of groundwater burst on to the surface. Scientists propose that groundwater had a greater role in shaping the martian surface than previously believed, and may have sheltered primitive life forms as the planet started drying up.

Hebes Chasma is located at approximately 1° south and 282° east. Image data was obtained on 16 September 2005 with a ground resolution of approximately 15 m/pixel.

Source: European Space Agency
	More on • Mars Express • Mars