Geology & Volcanism

A Quick review of Earth

Plate Tectonics:“A theory that explains the global distribution of geological phenomena such as seismicity, volcanism, continental drift, and mountain building in terms of the formation, destruction, movement, and interaction of the earth's lithosphere plates.”

Subduction Zones:Are the places where two lithospheric plates come together. Oceanic plates are more dense and thus move under continental (less dense) plates. So, most volcanoes on land occur parallel to and inland from the boundary between the two plates.

QUICK FACT: Earth has three types of Volcanoes:

Cinder Cone, Composite, and Shield

Earth – Continued

Hot Spots:Are fixed places within the mantle or oceanic lithosphere where rocks melt to become magma.  When a hot spot is situated in the oceanic lithosphere a shield volcanoes is built. 

Rock Cycle:There are three different ways rock can be created on earth and thus there are three mainclassifications of rock, based on the three processes - igneous, sedimentary, and

metamorphic.

QUICK FACT: Oldest rock on Earth

2011: “Scientists have discovered rocks that are 4.28 billion years old, making them 250 million years more ancient than any previously discovered rocks. Our planet formed about 4.6 billion years ago, so these rocks could provide a unique window on the young Earth.”

MARS Geology & Volcanoes

• NASA Mars Exploration Program: Geology– Goal 3: Characterize the Geology of

Mars• All NASA missions to Mars (past, present, &

future)

MARS - Volcanism

A Few Changes:

1st: NO PLATE TECTONICS

2nd: NO SUBDUCTION

3rd: NO ROCK CYCLE

So, What does this mean?

QUICK FACT: Oldest rock on MARS:

The oldest Martian meteorite was believed to be ALH84001, at ~ 4.5 billion years.

(New data (4/15/10) may date the meteorite at 4.091 billion years )

So, What does this mean?• Mars’ geology is basically unchanged

• One type of Volcano is formed – Shield Volcano

• Rocks and Minerals on Mars are original. They do not recycle into another type of rock.

• Mars become the perfect place to study . . . HOW?– NASA Orbiters Missions– NASA Rovers Missions

NASA ORBITERS - MISSIONS

Geography : Study Volcanoes

NASA Missions -Orbiters

1997 Mars Global SurveyorMOLA: The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter created the most accurate global topographic map of any planet in the solar system, giving scientists elevation maps precise to within about 30 centimeters (1 foot) in the vertical dimension

2001 Mars Odyssey

THEMIS : By looking at the visible and infrared parts of the spectrum, THEMIS is determining the distribution of minerals on the surface of Mars and helping scientists understand how the mineralogy of the planet relates to the landforms.

2003 Mars ExpressSeven scientific instruments onboard the orbiting spacecraft will perform a series of remote sensing experiments designed to shed new light on the Martian atmosphere, the planet's structure, geology and composition.

1997 Mars Global Surveyor

2001 Mars Odyssey

2003 Mars Express

Mars Volcanoes• Mars has the

Largest Volcanoes in our solar system.

• Up to 100 times larger than on Earth

• Only Shield Volcanoes are on Mars

Shield Volcano

Shield Volcano -- A broad volcanic cone with gentle slopes constructed of successive lava flows.

Picture: NASA Viking Orbiter (July 19. 1995)

Olympus Mons is the largest volcano on Mars. This shield volcano, similar to volcanoes in Hawaii, measures 624 km (374 mi) in diameter by 25 km (16 mi) high. Located on the Tharsis Plateau near the equator, Olympus Mons is bordered by an escarpment. The caldera in the center is 80 km (50 mi) wide and contains multiple circular, overlapping collapse craters created by different volcanic events. The radial features on the slopes of the volcano were formed by overflowing lava and debris.

http://pdsproto.jpl.nasa.gov/captions/mars/olympus.htm

ComparisonMauna Loa Hawaii Olympus Mons

Landsat Image : February 5, 2000

Geography from SpacePicture 1:2003 Mars Express ( European Space Agency)

MOLA Data (Science Team)Regional map of the Tharsis dome (high elevation to the west) and Chryse outflow basin (low lying region to the east)

http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31028&fbodylongid=646

Picture 2: 2001 Mars Odyssey Mission

THEMIS: The Thermal Emission Imaging System is a camera that images Mars in the visible and infrared parts of the spectrum in order to determine the distribution of minerals on the surface of Mars.

http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/mission/technology/

Olympus

THEMIS: Another View

MARS : Science Fiction?

Pyramids Mars Volcanoes

MARS ActivityMapping the Surface of the Planet

Mars Education ProgramArizona State University

http://marsed.asu.edu/mapping

NASA ROVER - MISSIONSTo Study Rocks and Minerals

NASA Missions - Rovers

1976 Viking 1 & 2Primary scientific objectives of the lander mission: to study the biology, chemical composition (organic and inorganic), meteorology, seismology, magnetic properties, appearance, and physical properties of the Martian surface and atmosphere.

2004 Mars Explorer Rover (MER)Panoramic Camera : Determining the mineralogy, texture, and structure of the local terrain.

Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer Identifying promising rocks and soils for closer examination and for determining the processes that formed Martian rocks.

Microscopic Imager : Obtaining close-up, high-resolution images of rocks and soils

Mössbauer Spectrometer : Close-up investigations of the mineralogy of iron-bearing rocks and soils.

Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer : Close-up analysis of the abundances of elements that make up rocks and soils.

1976 Viking 1

2004 Mars Explorer Rover

Rocks and Minerals

Marquette Island is a coarse-grained rock with a basalt composition. The coarseness indicates it cooled slowly from molten rock, allowing crystals time to grow. This composition suggests to geologists that it originated deep in the crust, not at the surface where it would cool quicker and have finer-grained texture

2004 Mars Explorer Rover (MER)

Rocks and Minerals

The science team used two tools on Opportunity's arm -- the microscopic imager and the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer -- to inspect the rock's texture and composition. Information from the spectrometer confirmed that the rock is a nickel-iron meteorite. The team informally named the rock "Oileán Ruaidh" (pronounced ay-lan ruah), which is the Gaelic name for an island off the coast of northwestern Ireland

2004 Mars Explorer Rover (MER)

Rocks and Minerals

The rover used the tools on its robotic arm to examine the texture and composition of target areas on the rock with and without the dark coating.  The rock is about the size of a loaf of bread. Initial analysis was inconclusive about whether the coating on the rock is material that melted during the impact event that dug the crater.

This view is presented in false color, which makes some differences between materials easier to see. It combines three separate images taken through filters.

2004 Mars Explorer Rover (MER)

MARS : No Longer Science Fiction

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=886

MARS A New Way to Study Earth Science

Questions?

NASA Reference Websites• http://www.us-satellite.net/shortcourses/endeavor/marslinks.html

• http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/

• http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/

• http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=9

• http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/video/spirit01.html

• http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/viking/

• http://quest.nasa.gov/mars/events/webchats/7-24jf.html

• http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/ast29apr99_1/

Earth Reference Websites• http://www.answers.com/topic/plate-tectonics

• http://www.rocksandminerals.com/rockcycle.htm

• http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/hotspots.php

• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080925144624.htm

• http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/2885/earths-oldest-rocks

• http://www.space.com/8229-oldest-mars-meteorite-younger-thought.html

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/slidesets/mvolcan/volcanoes_index.shtml

Non NASA Reference Websites • http://www.solarviews.com/eng/marsvolc.htm

• http://marsed.mars.asu.edu/msip-home

• http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20081216a