5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[MIS18-P04] Importance of CEP volcanism in Martian mantle dynamics, review and proposal
Keywords:Mars, volcanism, mantle dynamics, plume model, Central Elysium Planitia
Central Elysium Planitia (CEP) on Mars is famous for its young volcanic activity, which manifests still-active interior. But this activity seems quite different from other martian volcanism such as large volume volcanoes. This report is a review of current researches on CEP volcanism and a proposal of CEP for the site of future martian exploration.
Martian volcanism, particularly. large edifice building one has been referred to the terrestrial hot spot volcanism, which can be interpreted as starting plume model. In this model volcanism starts as continental flood basalt (CFB) which corresponds to the plume head, where as following hot spot volcanism corresponds at the stem/tail part of the plume. On the Earth link of hot spot and CFB is evident in the geographical distribution such as Deccan Plateau and Re Union hot spot (Ernst et al., 2003; Ballmer et al., 2015; Davaille et al., 2011). What makes this link clear is the existence of plate motion which separates hot spot and CFB. In the early history of the Earth these surface features were eroded and removed and only deep plumbing parts are remained as mafic dyke swarms so that hot spot volcanism, CFB and mafic dyke swarms are essential suite for the plume model.
On Mars this link is quite difficult to envisage because of absence of plate motion and surface removal process. Large volcanoes on Tharsis Plateau have prolonged activity over Ga which indicates terrestrial hot spot volcanism but no evidence remained as for CFB activity at the initial stage. CEP volcanism would provide complementary role. The characteristic style of CEP volcanism is high aspect ratio distribution indicative of fluidic nature and large volume effusion in short period (Vaucher et al., 2009). These characteristics are common in CFB activity. Recently Broquet and Andrews-Hanna, 2023 proposes existence of large plume head in the east of Elysium Mons based on topography and gravity data. Combining this CEP volcanism could be modeled as the initial stage of outbreak of plume head. Tao et al 2023 compare magmatic composition estimated by pMELTS in the martian condition with remote sensing GRS data and discuss the origin of magma in Elysium region. Although enough data are not available for GRS they are discussing CEP lava seems to have different trend of Tharsis volcanoes (Baratoux et al., 2011,2013). This is an important constraint to consider the origin of CEP volcanism, which may represent distinction of plume head and plume stem/tail (Ernst et al., 2003).
Another intrigue but strange point in the plume modeling of CEP volcanism is that lava flow mostly effused only from Cerberus Fossae. In the terrestrial cases outbreak of plume head is conducted through radial dyke system. Why only E-W trending fissures are active instead of radial ones ? Or does the other rift zone in CEP exist? The key point should be the location is close to the dichotomy boundary which runs in the direction E-W, and the spatial distribution of small volcanic features.
In the poster we focus following points;
1: Whether signatures of chemical composition of lava of CEP is consistent with plume head model ?
2: Whether anisotropic effusion style rather than radial one is consistent with outbreak of plume head ?
3: Prospects for future exploration in the frame work of mantle dynamics of Mars. What are essential observations we have to conduct?
Reference:
Ernst, R., and K. Buchan. 2003. “Recognizing Mantle Plumes in the Geological Record.” Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 31 (1): 469–523.
Vaucher, J., et al 2009. “The Morphologies of Volcanic Landforms at Central Elysium Planitia: Evidence for Recent and Fluid Lavas on Mars.” Icarus 200 (1): 39–51.
Davaille,A. et al, 2011. “Anatomy of a Laminar Starting Thermal Plume at High Prandtl Number.” Experiments in Fluids 50 (2): 285–300.
MD Ballmer, P. van Keken And G. Ito. 2015. “Hotspots, Large Igneous Provinces, and Melting Anomalies.” Treatise in Geophysics 2nd Ed. 7 (7.10): 393–459.
Baratoux, D.,et al 2011. “Thermal History of Mars Inferred from Orbital Geochemistry of Volcanic Provinces.” Nature 472 (7343): 338–41.
Baratoux, D. Et al 2013. “The Petrological Expression of Early Mars Volcanism.” Journal of Geophysical Research. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JE004234.
Broquet, A., and J. C. Andrews-Hanna. 2023. “Geophysical Evidence for an Active Mantle Plume underneath Elysium Planitia on Mars.” Nature Astronomy 7 (2): 160–69.
Tan, X. et al,2023. “pMELTS MODELING OF THE ELYSIUM VOLCANIC PROVINCE.” 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2023 (LPI Contrib. No. 2806), 1886.
Martian volcanism, particularly. large edifice building one has been referred to the terrestrial hot spot volcanism, which can be interpreted as starting plume model. In this model volcanism starts as continental flood basalt (CFB) which corresponds to the plume head, where as following hot spot volcanism corresponds at the stem/tail part of the plume. On the Earth link of hot spot and CFB is evident in the geographical distribution such as Deccan Plateau and Re Union hot spot (Ernst et al., 2003; Ballmer et al., 2015; Davaille et al., 2011). What makes this link clear is the existence of plate motion which separates hot spot and CFB. In the early history of the Earth these surface features were eroded and removed and only deep plumbing parts are remained as mafic dyke swarms so that hot spot volcanism, CFB and mafic dyke swarms are essential suite for the plume model.
On Mars this link is quite difficult to envisage because of absence of plate motion and surface removal process. Large volcanoes on Tharsis Plateau have prolonged activity over Ga which indicates terrestrial hot spot volcanism but no evidence remained as for CFB activity at the initial stage. CEP volcanism would provide complementary role. The characteristic style of CEP volcanism is high aspect ratio distribution indicative of fluidic nature and large volume effusion in short period (Vaucher et al., 2009). These characteristics are common in CFB activity. Recently Broquet and Andrews-Hanna, 2023 proposes existence of large plume head in the east of Elysium Mons based on topography and gravity data. Combining this CEP volcanism could be modeled as the initial stage of outbreak of plume head. Tao et al 2023 compare magmatic composition estimated by pMELTS in the martian condition with remote sensing GRS data and discuss the origin of magma in Elysium region. Although enough data are not available for GRS they are discussing CEP lava seems to have different trend of Tharsis volcanoes (Baratoux et al., 2011,2013). This is an important constraint to consider the origin of CEP volcanism, which may represent distinction of plume head and plume stem/tail (Ernst et al., 2003).
Another intrigue but strange point in the plume modeling of CEP volcanism is that lava flow mostly effused only from Cerberus Fossae. In the terrestrial cases outbreak of plume head is conducted through radial dyke system. Why only E-W trending fissures are active instead of radial ones ? Or does the other rift zone in CEP exist? The key point should be the location is close to the dichotomy boundary which runs in the direction E-W, and the spatial distribution of small volcanic features.
In the poster we focus following points;
1: Whether signatures of chemical composition of lava of CEP is consistent with plume head model ?
2: Whether anisotropic effusion style rather than radial one is consistent with outbreak of plume head ?
3: Prospects for future exploration in the frame work of mantle dynamics of Mars. What are essential observations we have to conduct?
Reference:
Ernst, R., and K. Buchan. 2003. “Recognizing Mantle Plumes in the Geological Record.” Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 31 (1): 469–523.
Vaucher, J., et al 2009. “The Morphologies of Volcanic Landforms at Central Elysium Planitia: Evidence for Recent and Fluid Lavas on Mars.” Icarus 200 (1): 39–51.
Davaille,A. et al, 2011. “Anatomy of a Laminar Starting Thermal Plume at High Prandtl Number.” Experiments in Fluids 50 (2): 285–300.
MD Ballmer, P. van Keken And G. Ito. 2015. “Hotspots, Large Igneous Provinces, and Melting Anomalies.” Treatise in Geophysics 2nd Ed. 7 (7.10): 393–459.
Baratoux, D.,et al 2011. “Thermal History of Mars Inferred from Orbital Geochemistry of Volcanic Provinces.” Nature 472 (7343): 338–41.
Baratoux, D. Et al 2013. “The Petrological Expression of Early Mars Volcanism.” Journal of Geophysical Research. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JE004234.
Broquet, A., and J. C. Andrews-Hanna. 2023. “Geophysical Evidence for an Active Mantle Plume underneath Elysium Planitia on Mars.” Nature Astronomy 7 (2): 160–69.
Tan, X. et al,2023. “pMELTS MODELING OF THE ELYSIUM VOLCANIC PROVINCE.” 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2023 (LPI Contrib. No. 2806), 1886.