Exploring the evidence of Middle Amazonian aquifer sedimentary outburst residues in a Martian chaotic terrain.

ABSTRACT: The quest for past Martian life hinges on locating surface formations linked to ancient habitability. While Mars' surface is considered to have become cryogenic ~3.7 Ga, stable subsurface aquifers persisted long after this transition. Their extensive collapse triggered megafloods ~3.4 Ga, and the resulting outflow channel excavation generated voluminous sediment eroded from the highlands. These materials are considered to have extensively covered the northern lowlands. Here, we show evidence that a lacustrine sedimentary residue within Hydraotes Chaos formed due to regional aquifer upwelling and ponding into an interior basin. Unlike the northern lowland counterparts, its sedimentary makeup likely consists of aquifer-expelled materials, offering a potential window into the nature of Mars'

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez JAP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10584912 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature