Polar wander of Mars: Evidence from giant impact basins

Abstract

We investigate the polar wander of Mars in the last ∼4.2 Ga. We identify two sets of basins from the 20 giant impact basins reported by Frey [Frey, H., 2008. Geophys. Res. Lett. 35, L13203] which trace great circles on Mars, and propose that the great circles were the prevailing equators of Mars at the impact times. Monte Carlo tests are conducted to demonstrate that the two sets of basins are most likely not created by random impacts. Also, fitting 63,771 planes to randomly selected sets of 5, 6, or 7 basins indicated that the identified two sets are unique. We propose three different positions for the rotation pole of Mars, besides the present one. Accordingly, Tharsis bulge was initially formed at ∼50 N and moved toward the equator while rotating counterclockwise due to the influence of the two newly forming volcanic constructs, Alba Patera and Elysium Rise. The formation of the giant impact basins, subsequent mass concentrations (mascons) in Argyre, Isidis, and Utopia basins, and surface masses of volcanic mountains such as Ascraeus, Pavonis, Arsia and Olympus, caused further polar wander which rotated Tharsis bulge clockwise to arrive at its present location. The extensive polar motion of Mars during 4.2–3.9 Ga implies a weak lithosphere on a global scale, deduced from a total of 72,000 polar wander models driven by Tharsis bulge, Alba Patera and Elysium Rise as the major mass perturbations. Different compensation states, 0–100%, are examined for each of the surface loads, and nine different thicknesses are considered for an elastic lithosphere. The lithosphere must have been very weak, with an elastic thickness of less than 5 km, if the polar wander was driven by these mass perturbations.