Researchers have uncovered the first evidence of a volcanic spatter cone on Mars, shedding new light on the Red Planet’s volcanic past. This discovery expands our understanding of the diverse eruption styles that may have occurred on Mars and offers valuable insights into the planet’s geological history.
Uncovering Martian Volcanoes
A team of scientists at the University of Idaho has discovered one of these treasures on Mars, led by assistant professor Erika Rader and postdoctoral researcher Ian T.W. Flynn. Using the well-controlled experiments and a novel application of ballistic modeling, they have zeroed in on one example located at a volcanic vent site on Mars as a candidate spatter cone – structures found fairly ubiquitously on Earth wherever explosive volcanism occurs.
A spatter cone is formed when accumulating hot lava fragments are blasting into the air during sustained periods of lava fountaining. Known on Earth from lava eruptions at Hawaii and a few other locations, these features had never before been observed elsewhere in the solar system even though Mars shares many radiation events.
While the complex spatter cone that grew during the 2021 eruption of Fagradalsfjall, Iceland (pictured above) may not resemble an entire volcano on Mars, it does share some similarities with Scalloped Top. The discovery thus not only confirms the existence of spatter cones on Mars but could also imply that in contrast to what has long been suspected following the last eruptions on Earth such eruptive dynamics were active millions of years ago on Mars too.
Martian Volcanism Insights
Finding a Martian Spatter ConeA fresh Martian spatter cone offers some crucial hints into an activity that is volcanic on the Earth. Spatter cones only form under certain conditions (for example, the gases in the magma and environmental factors) The volcanic spatter cone on Mars can provide a window to the composition of magma on the planet and what environmental conditions might have been like when it erupted, researchers said.
The presence of spatter cones on Mars is an important discovery: it indicates that the Martian volcanic eruptions were similar to some that we see on Earth, Rader says. It illustrates a wider diversity in volcanic eruption styles on Mars than those who study this planet have ever seen — vital information when it comes to creating realistic simulations of how its volcanoes behave, and what that behavior can tell us about the evolution of its interior.
The lead author of the study, Flynn says This revelation helps to close an important observational gap in Martian volcanology and sets the stage for future studies that may more closely examine spatter features on Mars. Of course, this new information will certainly lead to a more detailed comprehension of the formation and geological evolution of Mars.
Conclusion
Lava-coated Mars hasn’t always been this cold: Volcanic spew can change the face of both planetsBelowTropical paradise on ancient Mars. The discovery validates not only the existence of spatter cones on Mars but also suggests that volcanism on that planet was similar to Earth’s. The composition of the Mars magma would be comparable, and by studying the characteristics of the Martian spatter cone scientists might have an idea of what type of environmental conditions existed when this volcano erupted. Their discovery will provide multiple channels of investigation and is yet another step closer to unlocking the riddles within Mars.
