Journal article
Spectral evidence for magmatic differentiation within a martian plumbing system
Geology (Boulder), Vol.54(4), pp.332-336
04/01/2026
DOI: 10.1130/G53969.1
Abstract
Comprehensive studies of martian volcanic landforms offer otherwise inaccessible insights into subsurface magmatic systems that evolve and differentiate over time. Through orbital spectral analyses of a long-lived volcanic system south of Pavonis Mons that, over multiple eruptions, transitioned from a fissure vent to a point-source cone-forming vent, we identified mineralogical changes across morphologically distinct units. The fissure-fed lava flows exhibit olivine spectral characteristics, indicating deep-sourced magma, likely from the mantle or lower crust, while younger, finger-shaped lava flows on the cone are dominated by high-calcium pyroxenes, indicating a more evolved magma source. While these two different-aged units originate from the same regional plumbing system, their mineralogical differences suggest magmatic differentiation through crustal storage, possible assimilation, and fractional crystallization during subsequent cooling. These findings enhance our understanding of magma evolution in the late Amazonian on Mars.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Spectral evidence for magmatic differentiation within a martian plumbing system
- Creators
- Bartosz Pieterek - Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznańValerie Payré - University of IowaThomas J. Jones - Lancaster University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geology (Boulder), Vol.54(4), pp.332-336
- DOI
- 10.1130/G53969.1
- ISSN
- 0091-7613
- eISSN
- 1943-2682
- Publisher
- GEOLOGICAL SOC AMER, INC
- Grant note
- National Science Centre, Poland: 2024/53/B/ST10/00488 UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship: MR/W009781/1
We thank editor Scott King and the reviewers Harry McSween, Scott Hughes, and one anonymous reviewer for their feedback. This research was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (grant no. 2024/53/B/ST10/00488) , awarded to Pieterek. Jones was supported by a UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship (MR/W009781/1) . Data availability statement: The data used for geological mapping and spectral analyses in this study are freely available at the NASA Planetary Data System website. The CTX-based DEM used for topographic measurements and 3-D visualizations has been produced using the MarsSI. The DEMs produced are available at the MarsSI repository or the FigShare repository https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare .29403716 dedicated to this study.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 01/29/2026
- Date published
- 04/01/2026
- Academic Unit
- School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
- Record Identifier
- 9985139296802771
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