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Similar Ring Structures on Mars and Tibetan Plateau confirm recent tectonism on Martian Northern polar region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2016

A. Anglés  and
Y. L. Li
A. Anglés
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
Y. L. Li*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
*
e-mail: yiliang@hku.hk
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Abstract

The polar regions of Mars feature layered deposits, some of which exist as enclosed zoning structures. These deposits raised strong interest since their discovery and still remain one of the most controversial features on Mars. Zoning structures that are enclosed only appear in the Northern polar region, where the disappearance of water bodies may have left behind huge deposits of evaporate salts. The origin of the layered deposits has been widely debated. Here we propose that the enclosed nature of the zoning structures indicates the result of recent tectonism. We compared similar structures at an analogue site located in the western Qaidam Basin of Tibetan Plateau, a unique tectonic setting with abundant saline deposits. The enclosed structures, which we term Ring Structures, in both the analogue site and in the Northern polar region of Mars, were formed by uplift induced pressurization and buoyancy of salts as the result of recent tectonic activity.

Keywords

hyper-arid climatelayered depositsMartian tectonismQaidam Basinsalt lakeTibetan Plateau
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , October 2017 , pp. 355 - 359
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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