Mechanism of Origin of Chains of Cones in Cryse PLanitia

Introduction: Small cones are common on Mars [1]. Some are concentrated in large fields or form long chains of several dozen kilometers long. Similar cones and chains are observed on Earth in volcanic zones (e.g., Iceland).

The origin of cones on Mars is discussed in many papers [e.g., 2-5]. [2] investigated cones in Chryse  Planitia. They believe that the cones are mostly results of mud volcanism and/or evaporite deposition.

Considered region: We analyzed the region on  Chryse Planitia centered in ~38^o13’ N and ~40^o35’W - Figs 1 and 2. The region is at the boundary of a smooth plain (AHcs) and a complex unit (AHcc). AHcs is the Amazoniam-Hesperian smooth plain. A small region of another type (HNck in Fig.1) is: “older knobby material” [6]. All of considered forms are composed of lacustrine deposits. They are thick enough to cover possible underlying wrinkle ridges – [6]. These ridges could be a source of hot lava or pyroclastic falls. 

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