Igneous dikes on Mars revealed by Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter topography

摘要

The origin of Martian grabens has remained controversial for decades, given the nonuniqueness of graben morphology and conflicting interpretations of dike-induced or faulting-based formation processes. We use measurements from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter to identify the characteristic topographic signature at the surface of an igneous dike beneath a Martian graben. Our results suggest that this subtle but diagnostic signature can be used to test competing interpretations of the formation of grabens and associated fissures and collapse depressions.