Geophysical Investigation of Noctis Volcano on (equatorial) Mars using MOLA, MARSIS, and Numerical Plume Modelling.
Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Abstract: Most Martian volcanoes have been fed by stationary mantle plumes, leading to the buildup of large shield edifices. A recent investigation on a poorly mapped region, located between equatorial Noctis Labyrinthus and Valles Marineris, revealed a heavily fractured structure, initially interpreted to be an ancient shield volcano called Noctis Mons. This work uses orbital data and geophysical models to unravel the volcano-tectonic formation history of Noctis Mons. Using topographic data, the pre-fracture structure of Noctis Mons is revealed and found to resemble typical small volcanic Martian shields, with a height of ~8694 m. Ancient plume-induced uplift is also observed and compared to an analytical elastic flexure model. Our results indicate Noctis was fed by a ~470 km wide and ~70 km thick mantle plume head. Analyses of radar data suggest a large part of Noctis is made of highly porous (~51%) basalt, suggesting intense explosive activity and potential phreatomagmatism with magma interacting with Valles Marineris water in the Hesperian.
Authors: Faris Beg, Adrien Broquet
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4415817976
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