Fault scaling at the Reykjanes Peninsula (Iceland) as a Mars Analogue: Displacement-length relationship in comparison with Memnonia Fossae, Mars

Abstract

The understanding of geometric fault properties is crucial for reconstructing the geological evolution of a tectonic region. However, there is a notable lack of fault scaling studies on extraterrestrial bodies due to limited reliable topographic data, creating a gap in planetary structural geology research. To address this gap, focused research on fault scaling in extraterrestrial environments is necessary, with analogous investigations on Earth serving as essential supporting activities. A previous study in the Memnonia Fossae region on Mars examined normal faults, offering insights into their geometric characteristics and kinematics. The Memnonia Fossae, a series of narrow grabens extending from Mars' main volcanic region, Tharsis, was analyzed, with a Dmax/L ratio of 0.007 calculated based on measurements from 100 individual faults. To aid this study, normal faults in Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula were chosen as an Earth analogue due to similar lithologies and potential tectonic influences. Fieldwork in Iceland involved gathering measurements of 74 faults and fractures, recording parameters such as opening, shear sense, throw, and extension vectors. Preliminary results indicate a Dmax/L ratio of 0.005, with further comparisons planned between measurements from Mars, Earth, and beyond, to be discussed at an upcoming conference within the context of comparative structural geology.