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5 - Geology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2009

Nadine Barlow
Affiliation:
Northern Arizona University
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Summary

Solid bodies have their surfaces affected by geologic processes. By studying the current state of a planetary surface and applying our terrestrial experience of what features are associated with the different geologic processes, planetary geologists disentangle information about the geologic and thermal evolution of the body in question.

Geologic processes are divided into internal and external processes. Internal processes originate from within the body and include volcanism, tectonics, and mass wasting (caused by the planet's gravity). External processes originate outside of the planet's interior and include impact cratering, eolian (wind-blown), fluvial, and glacial processes. All of these processes have operated on Mars to varying extents.

Geologic terms and techniques

Rocks and minerals

Understanding a planet's geologic history requires development of techniques to read the record left by geologic processes. Solid bodies like Mars are composed of rocks, which are made up of minerals. A mineral is a naturally formed substance with a specific chemical composition. It can be composed entirely of one element or it can be a compound consisting of two or more elements. Minerals usually have a specific crystalline structure and changes in crystal structure, even when chemical composition remains constant, result in a different mineral.

Rocks are composed of a mass of minerals. A rock can be composed of a single mineral type or be a mixture of different minerals. Igneous rocks are rocks that solidify from molten material.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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  • Geology
  • Nadine Barlow, Northern Arizona University
  • Book: Mars: An Introduction to its Interior, Surface and Atmosphere
  • Online publication: 15 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511536069.006
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  • Geology
  • Nadine Barlow, Northern Arizona University
  • Book: Mars: An Introduction to its Interior, Surface and Atmosphere
  • Online publication: 15 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511536069.006
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Geology
  • Nadine Barlow, Northern Arizona University
  • Book: Mars: An Introduction to its Interior, Surface and Atmosphere
  • Online publication: 15 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511536069.006
Available formats
×