Electrical and seismological structure of the martian mantle and the detectability of impact-generated anomalies

Abstract

We derive synthetic electrical conductivity, seismic velocity, and density distributions from the results of martian mantle convection models affected by basin-forming meteorite impacts. The electrical conductivity features an intermediate minimum in the strongly depleted topmost mantle, sandwiched between higher conductivities in the lower crust and a smooth increase toward almost constant high values at depths greater than 400km. The bulk sound speed increases mostly smoothly throughout the mantle, with only one marked change at the appearance of β-olivine near 1100km depth. An assessment of the detectability of the subsurface traces of an impact suggests that its signature would be visible in both observables at least if efficient melt extraction from the shock-molten target occurs, but it will not always be particularly conspicuous even for large basins; observations with extensive spatial and temporal coverage would improve their detectability. Electromagnetic sounding may offer another possibility to investigate the properties of the mantle, especially in regions of impact structures. In comparison with seismology and gravimetry, its application to the martian interior has received little consideration so far. Of particular interest is its potential for constraining the water content of the mantle. By comparing electromagnetic sounding data of an impact structure with model predictions, it might also be possible to answer the open question of the efficiency of extraction of impact-generated melt.