Supervolcanic resurfacing in northwestern Arabia Terra, Mars

Authors

Augustus Bates, Louisiana State University
S. Goossens, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
J. M. Lorenzo, Louisiana State University
L. Ojha, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
D. R. Hood, Baylor University
S. Karunatillake, Louisiana State University
S. Kobs Nawotniak, Idaho State University
T. Paladino, Idaho State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-15-2023

Abstract

An area roughly 9 × 10⁵ km² within northwest Arabia Terra contains several depressions interpreted to be supervolcanic calderas, contained within a chemical province considered consistent with large-scale igneous processes. Despite the underlying global significance to climate and geology, the supervolcanic hypothesis is yet to be tested with comprehensive compositional or geophysical analyses. Here we present geochemical evidence consistent with regional-scale supervolcanic resurfacing, with associated eruptions capable of degassing a climate-altering ∼10⁸ kg of sulfur phases. Through gravitational modeling, we find evidence of low-density pyroclastic loading within this region, and a low elastic thickness, suggestive of a higher heat flow during the eruptive process. Our geochemical observations within this region reinforce its compositional uniqueness compared to contemporaneous volcanoes.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Icarus

Recommended Citation

Bates, A., Goossens, S., Lorenzo, J., Ojha, L., Hood, D., Karunatillake, S., Nawotniak, S., & Paladino, T. (2023). Supervolcanic resurfacing in northwestern Arabia Terra, Mars. Icarus, 390 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115303