New Mars Maps Show Evidence of Ancient Lakes

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Was the expansive Hellas Basin on Mars at one time a giant lake? A new geologic mapping project shows evidence of sedimentary deposits consistent with what would relate to large standing bodies of water. Fine-layered outcrops around the eastern rim of Hellas basin have been interpreted as a series of sedimentary deposits resulting from erosion and transport of highland rim materials into a basin-wide standing body of water. "This mapping makes geologic interpretations consistent with previous studies, and constrains the timing of these putative lakes to the early-middle Noachian period on Mars, between 4.5 and 3.5 billion years ago," said Dr. Leslie Bleamaster, research scientist at the Planetary Science Institute.

Hellas basin, more than 2,000 km across and 8 km deep, is the largest recognized impact structure on the Martian surface.

Using data from a variety of spacecraft, including the Viking Orbiter, the Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey, the researchers characterized the geologic materials and processes that have shaped the Hellas Planetia region on the southern hemisphere of Mars.

The mapping team searched through high-resolution images and found the eastern part of Hellas Planitia, where the fine-layered floor deposits were discovered, "is unique in nature representing a confluence between sedimentary sources and sinks."

"Our mapping and evaluation of landforms and materials of the Hellas region from the basin rim to floor provides further insight into Martian climate regimes and into the abundance, distribution, and flux of volatiles through history," Bleamaster said.

The mapping project reinforces earlier research that initially proposed Hellas-wide lakes citing different evidence in the west, he said. Take a look a

the new map along with a explanatory pamphlet.

Source: Planetary Science Institute

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson is a space journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She is currently retired from daily writing, but worked at Universe Today for 20 years as a writer and editor. She also contributed articles to The Planetary Society, Ad Astra (National Space Society), New Scientist and many other online outlets.

Her 2019 book, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it. Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and through this program, she has the opportunity to share her passion of space and astronomy with children and adults through presentations and programs. Nancy's personal website is nancyatkinson.com