Rifting on Mars: Implications for early lithospheric and crustal structure

Abstract

Rift valleys on Mars have recently attracted considerable attention and thoroughly been investigated from a geological perspective [1,2]. Apart from Valles Marineris, Martian rifts resemble terrestrial continental rift structures with respect to key characteristics such as geometric dimension, fault pattern, morphology and the presence of rift related volcanism. However, the usually present footwall uplift was not observed. Contrary to previous studies, we have identified rift flank uplift at the Coracis Fossae, facilitating geomechanical modeling.