Looking at Xanthe Terra, Mars: Structural History by Mapping Linear Features using CTX Imagery

The structural geology of Xanthe Terra, Mars is unique due to its proximity to different features. It is located on the Martian Dichotomy, the boundary between the Northern “Lowlands” and Southern “Highlands” with an elevation difference of 1-3km. This allows for study of both hemispheres. Xanthe Terra is also located North of the equator near Valles Marineris, a large canyon that runs along the equator. The presence of this canyon indicates a history of structural change. By studying structural features within Xanthe Terra, and the possible effects of the structural change from the surrounding areas, we have produced a better understanding of geology in this area. We used the program JMars to map linear features within a small area of Xanthe Terra using Context Camera (CTX) imagery collected by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. CTX imagery has a high spatial resolution, and covers a large area of Mars. CTX imagery allows for mapping of smaller structural features and provides detailed images of features for identification. Data were collected for each linear feature, including various attributes such as length and the base CTX image. The features were then attributed a stress type (compressional or extensional). Based on the stress type and imagery the linear features were then identified by type of deformation. We used Rose Diagrams to get a view of the stress field’s orientation within the area. The 400+ Linear features mapped and identified show the presence of features caused by both extensional and compressional stress. Xanthe Terra has a rich structural history. Its unique location has given insight to the structural history of the surrounding areas, and of Mars itself. This contributes to our overall understand of the geology of Mars