Map of tectonic shortening structures in Chryse Planitia and Arabia Terra, Mars

Abstract

We present a 1:4,000,000 scale map of tectonic landforms in Chryse Planitia and Arabia Terra, on either side of Mars ’ dichotomy. Our study area is a ∼ 3 million km 2 region, transitional between Mars ’ highlands and lowlands including Oxia Planum, the landing site of the ExoMars rover. Using a structural mapping approach, we digitised all kilometre-scale tectonic structures at a scale of 1:50,000 using high-resolution data ( ∼ 6 m/pixel). Although this region is represented as sparsely tectonised on global tectonic maps, we fi nd evidence of widespread tectonic shortening structures across the region. The shortening structures have a dominant N-S orientation and occur in all globally identi fi ed geological units. The structural map contributes to a broader understanding of the geological history of the region and Mars ’ wider tectonic history