Large‐scale spring deposits on Mars?

Abstract

We present a large‐scale spring hypothesis for the formation of various enigmatic light‐toned deposits (LTDs) on Mars. Layered to massive LTDs occur extensively in Valles Marineris, chaotic terrains, and several large craters, in particular, those located in Arabia Terra. Most of these deposits are not easily explained with either a single process or multiple ones, either in combination or occurring sequentially. Spring deposits can have a very wide range of internal facies and exhibit complex architectural variations. We propose the concept of large‐scale spring deposits for explaining LTDs on Mars. Stable volcano‐tectonic settings, such as the ones typical on Mars, are compatible with a large‐scale, long‐term, multistage formation of spring deposits. The large‐scale spring deposit model can explain the formation of LTDs with a common process, although active in different times and locations, compatible with coeval local or regional processes and deposits, such as volcaniclastic ones. LTDs, if formed as spring deposits derived from subsurface fluids, could potentially offer favorable conditions both to life and to the fossilization of past life forms.