Strange land forms on the flanks of Mars’ Arsia Mons volcano
Click for original image. Click here for the context camera image.
Cool image time! The center of the photo to the right was taken by the high resolution camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) on September 5, 2021. For posting here I have rotated, cropped, and reduced it, as well as added to each side the lower resolution context camera image of this region.
The ground slopes downhill to the north. Make sure you click on the image to see the full resolution version. In only a few miles the terrain changes from a mound with small knobs to a smooth area with few knobs to a chaotic area where the larger ridges and knobs are the dominant feature, with hollows and canyons in between.
You should also take a look at the full context camera image. Just to the southeast of the above picture is a large depression that looks like it has been filled with lava, with its western rim covered by that flow. Scientists have taken a lot of high resolution pictures of this depression with MRO, trying to decipher its geology.
The white dot on the overview map to the right shows the location of this photo, on the northwest lower flanks of the giant volcano Arsia Mons. The black dots are all the cool images of pits that I have featured in previous posts on Behind the Black.
This location is in the equatorial regions, so nothing here is likely the result of water ice. Instead, we are looking at the variety of geological shapes the fast moving lava of Mars can take as it covers the ground and solidifies.
As always, something familiar on Earth (lava) behaves on Mars in not quite the same way. We could be looking at the two types of lava that the Hawaiians named pahoehoe for smooth lava and a’a for rough lava, but the scales are different and the Martian lavas are not really the same.
In fact, other than stating these are lava flows that came out of a volcano, it is likely a mistake to think they are the same as Earth lava flows. This is Mars, a different planet with a very different history. We need to recognize that at all times.
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Your support will allow me to continue covering science and culture as I have for the past twenty years, independent and free from any outside influence.
Your support is even more essential to me because I not only keep this site free from advertisements, I do not use the corrupt social media companies like Google, Twitter, and Facebook to promote my work. I depend wholly on the direct support of my readers.
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If Patreon or Paypal don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
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Click for original image. Click here for the context camera image.
Cool image time! The center of the photo to the right was taken by the high resolution camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) on September 5, 2021. For posting here I have rotated, cropped, and reduced it, as well as added to each side the lower resolution context camera image of this region.
The ground slopes downhill to the north. Make sure you click on the image to see the full resolution version. In only a few miles the terrain changes from a mound with small knobs to a smooth area with few knobs to a chaotic area where the larger ridges and knobs are the dominant feature, with hollows and canyons in between.
You should also take a look at the full context camera image. Just to the southeast of the above picture is a large depression that looks like it has been filled with lava, with its western rim covered by that flow. Scientists have taken a lot of high resolution pictures of this depression with MRO, trying to decipher its geology.
The white dot on the overview map to the right shows the location of this photo, on the northwest lower flanks of the giant volcano Arsia Mons. The black dots are all the cool images of pits that I have featured in previous posts on Behind the Black.
This location is in the equatorial regions, so nothing here is likely the result of water ice. Instead, we are looking at the variety of geological shapes the fast moving lava of Mars can take as it covers the ground and solidifies.
As always, something familiar on Earth (lava) behaves on Mars in not quite the same way. We could be looking at the two types of lava that the Hawaiians named pahoehoe for smooth lava and a’a for rough lava, but the scales are different and the Martian lavas are not really the same.
In fact, other than stating these are lava flows that came out of a volcano, it is likely a mistake to think they are the same as Earth lava flows. This is Mars, a different planet with a very different history. We need to recognize that at all times.
I must unfortunately ask you for your financial support because I do not depend on ads and rely entirely on the generosity of readers to keep Behind the Black running. You can either make a one time donation for whatever amount you wish, or you sign up for a monthly subscription ranging from $2 to $15 through Paypal or $3 to $50 through Patreon.
Your support will allow me to continue covering science and culture as I have for the past twenty years, independent and free from any outside influence.
Your support is even more essential to me because I not only keep this site free from advertisements, I do not use the corrupt social media companies like Google, Twitter, and Facebook to promote my work. I depend wholly on the direct support of my readers.
You can provide that support to Behind The Black with a contribution via Patreon or PayPal. To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation. For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If Patreon or Paypal don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
Or you can donate by using Zelle through your bank. You will need to give my name and email address (found at the bottom of the "About" page). The best part of this electronic option is that no fees will be deducted! What you donate will be what I receive.
Reminds me of the Snake River Plain. We had an engineer that was also a geologist and he would tell us about how the Snake River Plain was formed. He was not of the opinion that which is called the “Yellowstone Hot Spot” was just an eruption that moved, he believed that a regional extinction level impact poked a hole in the crust, it is moving, and that is what caused the hot spot.
Volcanos on Mars just like their here on Earth do you suppose their the makings of Marvin and K-9 Eludium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator and water for al those Instant Martians
Looking at the closeup image I found what appears to be evidence of some recent landslides (mostly) in the chaotic area. Using the scale on the wide area image they will be found, about 3000 ft. from the top and left side of the closeup image, as dark lines down the sides of several ridges. What I find intriguing about the marks is that most point approximately in the same direction.
I wonder why… Elevation changes, Mars Quakes, Martian Dune Buggy races???
Bob: Do a search on BtB for “slope streaks.” Even better, click on those words in my post. My post at that link will explain to you what those dark markings might be, and why avalanches is a poor description of them.