Young volcanoes at the base of Coprates Chasma on Mars
Young volcanoes at the base of Coprates Chasma on Mars
Scientists conducting a study of the Coprates Chasma canyon in the east of the Valles Marineris canyon system on Mars have discovered a large number of volcanic cones and solidified lava flows at one of the lowest points of the valleys. Their findings are based on the evaluation of high-resolution images acquired by the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which have revealed these scoria and tuff cones. The cones that stretch up to 400 metres high were once interpreted as mud volcanoes. But during their study, the scientists – including the DLR Mars geologist Ernst Hauber – observed morphological details such as the bulging of solidified lava due to the injection of more recent lava beneath the hardened crust and characteristic surface patterns that are identical to those of lava fields on Earth. These are clear indications of magmatic rock volcanism.