A case for young igneous volcanism in the Terra Sirenum region, Mars

Abstract

In this study, we concentrate on an large field of 73 cones situated on the floor of an unnamed crater centered at 27.6°S, 156.9°W. This crater has been subjected to detailed investigations by at least three different scientific teams, each supporting various hypotheses like sedimentary and igneous volcanism regarding the cones origins. The cone field is circumferentially distributed around a triad of primary fractures, which have instigated the formation of the graben structure within the crater. The crater floor exhibits a variety of geomorphological and stratigraphic units, suggesting that the crater has undergone a complex history of different episodes of geological events, including volcanism, tectonic activity and potential fluvial processes. Cones display one of two broad morphologies: domical cones and pitted cones. The morphometric analysis of the W_CR/W_CO in relation to the Cone width of pitted cones aligns with the trends observed in both terrestrial and Martian scoria cones. However, the morphometric measurements of domical cones deviate from the discernible trends typically seen in igneous volcanic structures, sedimentary formations on Earth, and Martian edifices. The cumulative Size-Frequency Distribution (CSFD) analysis indicates the formation of the cone field in the crater occurred between ∼1.26 Ga and ∼1 Ga, corresponding to the Mid-Amazonian epoch. Spectral analysis of the crater floor units indicates the presence of kaolinite, along with low-calcium and high-calcium pyroxene minerals, which could potentially be a marker of volcanic as well as aqueous activities. However, the spectral signature of high-calcium pyroxene in the cone-field bearing crater unit suggests a recent igneous volcanic origin. This study highlights the complex geological history of the unnamed crater, with spectral and morphometric analyses suggesting a likely igneous volcanic origin for the cones amidst evidence of tectonic and aqueous activity.