Geologic Mapping of the Beta-Atla-Themis (BAT) Region of Venus: A Progress Report

The BAT province is of particular interest with respect to evaluating Venus geologic, tectonic, and volcanic history and provides tests of global paradigms regarding her thermal evolution. The BAT is "ringed" by volcano-tectonic troughs (Parga, Hecate, and Devana Chasmata), has an anomalously high-density of volcanic features with concentrations 2-4 times the global average [1], and is spatially coincident with "young terrain" as illustrated by Average Surface Model Ages [2, 3]. The BAT province is key to understanding Venus current volcanic and tectonic modes, which may provide insight for evaluating Venus historical record. Several quadrangles, two 1:5,000,000 scale - Isabella (V-50) Quadrangle and Devana Chasma (V-29) Quadrangle and two 1:10,000,000 scale - Helen Planitia (I-2477) and Guinevere Planitia (I-2457), are in various stages of production (Figure 1). This abstract will report on their levels of completion as well as highlight some current results and outstanding issues

Geologic Mapping of Isabella Quadrangle (V-50) and Helen Planitia, Venus

(25-50 S, 180-210 E) is host to numerous coronae and small volcanic centers (paterae and shield fields), focused (Aditi and Sirona Dorsa) and distributed (penetrative north-south trending wrinkle ridges) contractional deformation, and radial and linear extensional structures, all of which contribute materials to and/or deform the expansive surrounding plains (Nsomeka and Wawalag Planitiae). Regional plains, which are a northern extension of regional plains mapped in the Barrymore Quadrangle V-59 [1], dominate the V-50 quadrangle. Previous mapping divided the regional plains into two members: regional plains, members a and b [2]. A re-evaluation of these members has determined that a continuous and consistent unit contact does not exist; however, the majority of this radar unit or surficial unit will still be displayed on the final map as a stipple pattern as it is a prevalent feature of the quadrangle. With minimal tessera or highland material, much of the quadrangle s oldest materials are plains units (the regional plains). Much of these plains are covered with small shield edifices that exhibit a variety of material contributions (or flows). In the northwest, several flows emerge and flow to the southeast from Diana-Dali Chasmata. Local corona- and mons-fed flows superpose the regional plains; however, earlier stages of volcano-tectonic centers marked by arcuate and radial structural elements, including terrain so heavily deformed that it takes on a new appearance, may have developed prior to or concurrently with the region plains. Northtrending deformation belts disrupt the central portion of the map area and wrinkle ridges parallel these larger belts. Isabella crater, in the northeastern quadrant, is highly asymmetric and displays two prominent ejecta blanket morphologies, which generally correlate with distance from the impact structure suggesting that ejecta block size or ejecta blanket thickness may be the cause. The crater floor is very dark and shows no direct connection with the large outflow to the south, which emphasizes the asymmetry observed. Isabella crater ejecta and outflow materials clearly postdate several small craters in the vicinity

Geologic Mapping of the Nili Fossae Region of Mars: MTM Quadrangles 20287, 20282, 25287, 25282, 30287, and 30282

Geologic mapping studies at the 1:1M-scale are being used to assess geologic materials and processes that shape the highlands along the Arabia Terra dichotomy boundary. In particular, this mapping will provide a regional context and evaluate the distribution, stratigraphic position, and potential lateral continuity of compositionally distinct outcrops identified by spectral instruments currently in orbit (i.e., CRISM and OMEGA). Placing these landscapes, their material units, structural features, and unique compositional outcrops into spatial and temporal context with the remainder of the Arabia Terra dichotomy boundary may provide constraints on: 1) origin of the dichotomy boundary, 2) paleoenvironments and climate conditions, and 3) various fluvial-nival modification processes related to past and present volatile distribution and their putative reservoirs (aquifers, lakes and oceans, surface and ground ice) and the influences of nearby volcanic and tectonic features on hydrologic processes, including hydrothermal alteration, across the region

Geologic Mapping along the Arabia Terra Dichotomy Boundary: Mawrth Vallis and Nili Fossae, Mars

Geologic mapping studies at the 1:1M-scale are being used to assess geologic materials and processes that shape the highlands along the Arabia Terra dichotomy boundary. In particular, this mapping will evaluate the distribution, stratigraphic position, and lateral continuity of compositionally distinct outcrops in Mawrth Vallis and Nili Fossae as identified by spectral instruments currently in orbit. Placing these landscapes, their material units, structural features, and unique compositional outcrops into spatial and temporal context with the remainder of the Arabia Terra dichotomy boundary may provide constraints on: 1) origin of the dichotomy boundary, 2) paleo-environments and climate conditions, and 3) various fluvial-nival modification processes related to past and present volatile distribution and their putative reservoirs (aquifers, lakes and oceans, surface and ground ice) and the influences of nearby volcanic and tectonic features on hydrologic processes in these regions. The results of this work will include two 1:1M scale geologic maps of twelve MTM quadrangles (Mawrth Vallis - 20022, 20017, 20012, 25022, 25017, and 25012; and Nili Fossae - 20287, 20282, 25287, 25282, 30287, 30282)

Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, Flagstaff, AZ, 2008

Topics discussed include: Merging of the USGS Atlas of Mercury 1:5,000,000 Geologic Series; Geologic Mapping of the V-36 Thetis Regio Quadrangle: 2008 Progress Report; Structural Maps of the V-17 Beta Regio Quadrangle, Venus; Geologic Mapping of Isabella Quadrangle (V-50) and Helen Planitia, Venus; Renewed Mapping of the Nepthys Mons Quadrangle (V-54), Venus; Mapping the Sedna-Lavinia Region of Venus; Geologic Mapping of the Guinevere Planitia Quadrangle of Venus; Geological Mapping of Fortuna Tessera (V-2): Venus and Earth's Archean Process Comparisons; Geological Mapping of the North Polar Region of Venus (V-1 Snegurochka Planitia): Significant Problems and Comparisons to the Earth's Archean; Venus Quadrangle Geological Mapping: Use of Geoscience Data Visualization Systems in Mapping and Training; Geologic Map of the V-1 Snegurochka Planitia Quadrangle: Progress Report; The Fredegonde (V-57) Quadrangle, Venus: Characterization of the Venus Midlands; Formation and Evolution of Lakshmi Planum (V-7), Venus: Assessment of Models using Observations from Geological Mapping; Geologic Map of the Meskhent Tessera Quadrangle (V-3), Venus: Evidence for Early Formation and Preservation of Regional Topography; Geological Mapping of the Lada Terra (V-56) Quadrangle, Venus: A Progress Report; Geology of the Lachesis Tessera Quadrangle (V-18), Venus; Geologic Mapping of the Juno Chasma Quadrangle, Venus: Establishing the Relation Between Rifting and Volcanism; Geologic Mapping of V-19, V-28, and V-53; Lunar Geologic Mapping Program: 2008 Update; Geologic Mapping of the Marius Quadrangle, the Moon; Geologic Mapping along the Arabia Terra Dichotomy Boundary: Mawrth Vallis and Nili Fossae, Mars: Introductory Report; New Geologic Map of the Argyre Region of Mars; Geologic Evolution of the Martian Highlands: MTMs -20002, -20007, -25002, and -25007; Mapping Hesperia Planum, Mars; Geologic Mapping of the Meridiani Region, Mars; Geology of Holden Crater and the Holden and Ladon Multi-Ring Impact Basins, Margaritifer Terra, Mars; Geologic Mapping of Athabasca Valles; Geologic Mapping of MTM -30247, -35247 and -40247 Quadrangles, Reull Vallis Region of Mars; Geologic Mapping of the Martian Impact Crater Tooting; Geology of the Southern Utopia Planitia Highland-Lowland Boundary Plain: First Year Results and Second Year Plan; Mars Global Geologic Mapping: Amazonian Results; Recent Geologic Mapping Results for the Polar Regions of Mars; Geologic Mapping of the Medusae Fossae Formation on Mars (MC-8 SE and MC-23 NW) and the Northern Lowlands of Venus (V-16 and V-15); Geologic Mapping of the Zal, Hi'iaka, and Shamshu Regions of Io; Global Geologic Map of Europa; Material Units, Structures/Landforms, and Stratigraphy for the Global Geologic Map of Ganymede (1:15M); and Global Geologic Mapping of Io: Preliminary Results

Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, San Antonio, TX, 2009

Topics covered include: Geologic Mapping of the Beta-Atla-Themis (BAT) Region of Venus: A Progress Report; Geologic Map of the Snegurochka Planitia Quadrangle (V-1): Implications for Tectonic and Volcanic History of the North Polar Region of Venus; Preliminary Geological Map of the Fortuna Tessera (V-2) Quadrangle, Venus; Geological Map of the Fredegonde (V-57) Quadrangle, Venus; Geological Mapping of the Lada Terra (V-56) Quadrangle, Venus; Geologic Mapping of V-19; Lunar Geologic Mapping: A Preliminary Map of a Portion of the LQ-10 ("Marius") Quadrangle; Geologic Mapping of the Lunar South Pole, Quadrangle LQ-30: Volcanic History and Stratigraphy of Schr dinger Basin; Geologic Mapping along the Arabia Terra Dichotomy Boundary: Mawrth Vallis and Nili Fossae, Mars; Geologic Mapping Investigations of the Northwest Rim of Hellas Basin, Mars; Geologic Mapping of the Meridiani Region of Mars; Geology of a Portion of the Martian Highlands: MTMs -20002, -20007, -25002 and -25007; Geologic Mapping of Holden Crater and the Uzboi-Ladon-Morava Outflow System; Mapping Tyrrhena Patera and Hesperia Planum, Mars; Geologic Mapping of Athabaca Valles; Geologic Mapping of MTM -30247, -35247 and -40247 Quadrangles, Reull Vallis Region, Mars Topography of the Martian Impact Crater Tooting; Mars Structural and Stratigraphic Mapping along the Coprates Rise; Geology of Libya Montes and the Interbasin Plains of Northern Tyrrhena Terra, Mars: Project Introduction and First Year Work Plan; Geology of the Southern Utopia Planitia Highland-Lowland Boundary Plain: Second Year Results and Third Year Plan; Mars Global Geologic Mapping: About Half Way Done; New Geologic Map of the Scandia Region of Mars; Geologic Mapping of the Medusae Fossae Formation on Mars and the Northern Lowland Plains of Venus; Volcanism on Io: Insights from Global Geologic Mapping; and Planetary Geologic Mapping Handbook - 2009

Geologic Mapping of the Guinevere Planitia Quadrangle of Venus

The Guinevere Planitia quadrangle of Venus (0-25degN, 300-330deg) covers a lowland region east of Beta Regio and west of Eistla Regio, including parts of Guinevere and Undine Planitiae. The V-30 quadrangle is dominated by low-lying plains interpreted to be of volcanic origin and exhibiting numerous wrinkle ridges. Using Pioneer Venus, Goldstone, and Arecibo data, previous investigators have described radar bright, dark, and mottled plains units in the Guinevere Planitia region, as well as arcuate fracture zones and lineament belt segments that define the Beta-Eistla deformation zone [1-5]. Magellan SAR images show that volcanic landforms compose the majority of the surface units in V-30 [6-7]. The quadrangle contains parts of four major volcanoes: Atanua (9degN, 307deg), Rhpisunt (3degN, 302deg), Tuli (13degN, 314deg), and Var (3degN, 316deg) Montes, and three coronae: Hulda (12degN, 308deg), Madderakka (9degN, 316deg), and Poloznitsa (1degN, 303deg). Seymour crater, located at 18degN, 327deg, is associated with extensive crater outflow deposits

Geologic Mapping Investigations of the Northwest Rim of Hellas Basin, Mars

The Hellas impact basin, spanning 2000+ km in the cratered highlands, is the largest well-preserved impact structure on Mars and its deepest depositional sink. The Hellas region is significant for evaluating Mars hydrogeologic and climate histories, given the nature, diversity, and range in ages of potential water- and ice-related landforms [e.g., 1-2], including possible paleolakes on the basin floor [2-4]. The circum-Hellas highlands are of special interest given recent studies of potential localized fluvial/lacustrine systems [2, 5-17] and evidence for phyllosilicates around and within impact craters north of the basin [18-26]

Evidence for an Ancient Buried Landscape on the NW Rim of Hellas Basin, Mars

Hellas basin is the largest (2000+ km across) well-preserved impact structure on Mars and its deepest depositional sink [e.g., 1]. The Hellas rim and adjacent highlands are of special interest given the possibility of paleolakes on the basin floor [2-4], recent studies of potential localized fluvial/lacustrine systems [2, 5-17], and evidence for phyllosilicates around and within impact craters north of the basin [18-26]. We are producing a 1:1.5M-scale geologic map of eight MTM quadrangles (-25312, -25307, -25302, -25297, -30312, -30307, -30302, -30297) along Hellas NW rim. The map region (22.5-32.5degS, 45- 65degE) includes a transect across the cratered highlands of Terra Sabaea, the degraded NW rim of Hellas, and basin interior deposits of NW Hellas Planitia. No previous mapping studies have focused on this region, although it has been included in earlier global and regional maps [27-29]