Crater Density Research Articles

Crater modification and geologic activity in Enceladus' heavily cratered plains: Evidence from the impact crater distribution

Although we can observe current activity on Saturn's satellite Enceladus with Cassini, insight into past activity is best achieved (for now) through studying the impact crater distributions. Furthermore, approximation of terrain ages can only be attained through calculations using crater densities and estimations of impact rates in the saturnian system. Here we focus on what the impact crater distribution in Enceladus' heavily cratered plains can tell us about Enceladus' geologic history. We use Cassini ISS images to count craters in the heavily cratered plains on Enceladus, along with Rhea, Dione, Tethys and Mimas as references, to develop and compare their size-frequency distributions. Comparisons of our counts show that Enceladus' cratered plains distribution is unique in that it appears to have a relative deficiency of craters for diameters ⩽ 2 km and ⩾ 6 km compared to the other satellites' heavily cratered plains. Our data also indicates that the impact crater density within the cratered plains changes with latitude. Specifically, both the north and south mid-latitude regions have approximately three times higher density than the equatorial region. We hypothesize that the “missing” small and large craters in Enceladus' cratered plains is due to a combination of viscous relaxation of the larger craters, and burial of the relaxed large craters and small craters by south polar plume and possibly E-ring material. We also conclude that the spatial density distribution is not consistent with recent polar wander.

Automatic detection of sub-km craters in high resolution planetary images

Impact craters are among the most studied geomorphic planetary features because they yield information about the past geological processes and provide a tool for measuring relative ages of observed geologic formations. Surveying impact craters is an important task which traditionally has been achieved by means of visual inspection of images. The shear number of smaller craters present in high resolution images makes visual counting of such craters impractical. In this paper we present a method that brings together a novel, efficient crater identification algorithm with a data processing pipeline; together they enable a fully automatic detection of sub-km craters in large panchromatic images. The technical details of the method are described and its performance is evaluated using a large, 12.5 m/pixel image centered on the Nanedi Valles on Mars. The detection percentage of the method is ∼ 70 % . The system detects over 35,000 craters in this image; average crater density is 0.5 craters / km 2 , but localized spots of much higher crater density are present. The method is designed to produce “million craters” global catalogs of sub-km craters on Mars and other planets wherever high resolution images are available. Such catalogs could be utilized for deriving high spatial resolution and high temporal precision stratigraphy on regional or even planetary scale.

Claritas rise, Mars: Pre-Tharsis magmatism?

Claritas rise is a prominent ancient (Noachian) center of tectonism identified through investigation of comprehensive paleotectonic information of the western hemisphere of Mars. This center is interpreted to be the result of magmatic-driven activity, including uplift and associated tectonism, as well as possible hydrothermal activity. Coupled with its ancient stratigraphy, high density of impact craters, and complex structure, a possible magnetic signature may indicate that it formed during an ancient period of Mars' evolution, such as when the dynamo was in operation. As Tharsis lacks magnetic signatures, Claritas rise may pre-date the development of Tharsis or mark incipient development, since some of the crustal materials underlying Tharsis and older parts of the magmatic complex, respectively, could have been highly resurfaced, destroying any remanent magnetism. Here, we detail the significant characteristics of the Claritas rise, and present a case for why it should be targeted by the Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Mars Express spacecrafts, as well as be considered as a prime target for future tier-scalable robotic reconnaissance.

Current bombardment of the Earth–Moon system: Emphasis on cratering asymmetries

We calculate the current spatial distribution of projectile delivery to the Earth and Moon using numerical orbital dynamics simulations of candidate impactors drawn from a debiased Near-Earth Object (NEO) model. We examine the latitude distribution of impactor sites and find that for both the Earth and Moon there is a small deficiency of time-averaged impact rates at the poles. The ratio between deliveries within 30° of the pole to that of a 30° band centered on the equator is small for Earth (<5%) ( 0.958 ± 0.001 ) and somewhat greater for the Moon (∼10%) ( 0.903 ± 0.005 ). The terrestrial arrival results are examined to determine the degree of AM/PM asymmetry to compare with the PM excess shown in meteorite fall times. We find that the average lunar impact velocity is 20 km/s, which has ramifications in converting observed crater densities to impactor size distributions. We determine that current crater production on the leading hemisphere of the Moon is 1.28 ± 0.01 that of the trailing when considering the ratio of craters within 30° of the apex to those within 30° of the antapex and that there is virtually no nearside–farside asymmetry, in agreement with observations of rayed craters. As expected, the degree of leading–trailing asymmetry increases when the Moon's orbital distance is decreased.

K‐Ar dating of rocks on Mars: Requirements from Martian meteorite analyses and isochron modeling

Abstract— Radiometric age dating of Martian rocks and surfaces at known locations for which crater densities can be determined is highly desirable in order to fully understand Martian history. Performing K‐Ar age dating of igneous rocks on Mars by robots, however, presents technical challenges. Some of these challenges can be defined by examining Ar‐Ar data acquired on Martian meteorites, and others can be evaluated through numerical modeling of simulated K‐Ar isochrons like those that would be acquired robotically on Martian rocks. Excess 40Ar is present in all shergottites. Thus for Martian rocks, the slopes of K‐Ar isochrons must be determined to reasonable precision in order to calculate reliable ages. Model simulations of possible isochrons give an indication of some requirements in order to define a precise rock age: Issues addressed here are: how many K‐Ar analyses should be made of rocks thought to have the same age; what range of K concentrations should these analyzed samples have; and what analytical uncertainty in K‐Ar measurements is desirable. Meteorite data also are used to determine the D/a2 diffusion parameters for Ar in plagioclase and pyroxene separates of several shergottites and nakhlites. These data indicate the required temperatures and times for heating similar Martian rocks in order to extract Ar. Quantitatively extracting radiogenic 40Ar could be difficult, and degassing cosmogenic Ar from mafic phases even more so. Considering all these factors, robotic K‐Ar dating of Martian rocks may be achievable, but will be challenging.

Pulsating continents on Venus: An explanation for crustal plateaus and tessera terrains

We propose that tessera terrains on Venus represent continental crust that does not participate in the periodic recycling of the lithosphere through global subduction events. We have studied the force balance on the boundary of a continental area that survives a global subduction event using an analytical model. In the proposed model, the ratio between the crustal and lithospheric mantle thicknesses controls the force balance. If the crust thickness is less than ∼ 2/5 of the lithospheric mantle thickness, the continental area will be compressed, but if the crustal thickness is higher than ∼ 2/5 of the lithospheric mantle thickness, the continental area will spread out and collapse. Consequently, if the lithospheric mantle beneath a continental region is delaminated during a global subduction event, the continent will collapse generating tessera inliers dominated by extensional tectonics. But if a significant portion of lithospheric mantle remains, then the continental area will be compressed generating a plateau by crustal shortening. The observed plateau heights can be explained by this model, a ≈ 2 km height plateau can be generated by a lithospheric mantle thickness of 40 km while a ≈ 4 km height plateau can be generated by a 90 km thick lithospheric mantle. We have modelled this crustal thickening of a continental area by tectonic contraction using a thin viscous sheet approach with a Newtonian viscosity for the crust. The force from a hot mantle elevated during a global subduction event is enough to build up a plateau by compression in ∼ 50 Ma using a viscosity for the continental crust of η = 10 21 Pa s and ∼ 200 Ma for η = 5 · 10 21 Pa s. During this compressional stage concentric fold and thrust belts are generated in the plateau-continent, erasing any impact craters that were present. The subsequent stabilization of a new crust and lithosphere in the surrounding mantle changes the force balance allowing a moderate gravitational collapse of the plateau-continent accommodated by radial grabens. The pulsating continent model links for the first time the generation of crustal plateaus and the origin of the volcanic plains predicting the observed equivalent effective crater density for both terrains.

The formation of Tharsis on Mars: What the line‐of‐sight gravity is telling us

Line‐of‐sight (LOS) spacecraft acceleration profiles from the Radio Science Experiment and topography from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) instrument of the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) are analyzed to estimate the effective elastic thickness (Te) for various regions of Tharsis. We identify a buried basin flanking the Thaumasia Highlands at the southeastern margin of Tharsis. Assuming that this basin results from lithospheric flexure from surface loading by the Thaumasia Highlands, we fit LOS profiles across the feature with a thin‐shell, elastic flexure model and find the mountain belt to reflect a value of Te ∼ 20 km consistent with a Noachian formation age. We also determine admittances from LOS profiles for five regions across Tharsis and fit them with theoretical admittances calculated using the flexural model. Crater density, surface density, and predominant surface age are found to vary systematically across Tharsis while Te does not. The highest surface density and lowest Te values are obtained for the western portion of Tharsis where crater densities are lowest. Our results imply the majority of the topographic rise was emplaced within the Noachian irrespective of the surface ages. Topographic loading and resurfacing (i.e., volcanic activity) persisted into the Amazonian while becoming increasingly confined to the western margin where the youngest surface ages are found and the eruptive style transitioned from effusive volcanism to shield‐forming volcanism as Te increased.

Automated detection of lunar craters based on object-oriented approach

The object-oriented approach is a powerful method in making classification. With the segmentation of images to objects, many features can be calculated based on the objects so that the targets can be distinguished. However, this method has not been applied to lunar study. In this paper we attempt to apply this method to detecting lunar craters with promising results. Craters are the most obvious features on the moon and they are important for lunar geologic study. One of the important questions in lunar research is to estimate lunar surface ages by examination of crater density per unit area. Hence, proper detection of lunar craters is necessary. Manual crater identification is inefficient, and a more efficient and effective method is needed. This paper describes an object-oriented method to detect lunar craters using lunar reflectance images. In the method, many objects were first segmented from the image based on size, shape, color, and the weights to every layer. Then the feature of “contrast to neighbor objects” was selected to identify craters from the lunar image. In the next step, by merging the adjacent objects belonging to the same class, almost every crater can be taken as an independent object except several very big craters in the study area. To remove the crater rays diagnosed as craters, the feature of “length/width” was further used with suitable parameters to finish recognizing craters. Finally, the result was exported to ArcGIS for manual modification to those big craters and the number of craters was acquired.

Martian pedestal craters: Marginal sublimation pits implicate a climate‐related formation mechanism

Pedestal craters on Mars are defined by an outward‐facing scarp forming a plateau perched tens of meters above the surrounding terrain. Their origin has been attributed to impact armoring of the surface and subsequent removal of inter‐crater terrain by either eolian deflation or sublimation of an ice‐rich substrate. We identified 2696 pedestal craters between ∼60°N and 60°S latitude; 98% are poleward of 33°N and 40°S. The majority of pedestal crater margins are smoothly sloped, but ∼3%, concentrated in Utopia Planitia and Malea Planum, display distinctive marginal pits. These pedestal crater scarps are anomalously tall (usually &gt;80–100 m) and the pits resemble sublimation depressions seen on Earth and elsewhere on Mars, providing evidence for sublimation of volatiles in the scarp, where the armored surface has tapered. The pitted scarps provide insight into the origin of the general pedestal crater population, favoring formation via deposition of a volatile‐rich substrate, impact armoring, and sublimation of intervening volatiles. Crater densities and overlapping pedestal craters suggest multiple periods of emplacement and loss of these climate‐related, latitude‐dependent deposits throughout the Amazonian.

Mercury Cratering Record Viewed from MESSENGER's First Flyby

Morphologies and size-frequency distributions of impact craters on Mercury imaged during MESSENGER's first flyby elucidate the planet's geological history. Plains interior to the Caloris basin displaying color and albedo contrasts have comparable crater densities and therefore similar ages. Smooth plains exterior to Caloris exhibit a crater density approximately 40% less than on interior plains and are thus volcanic and not Caloris impact ejecta. The size distribution of smooth-plains craters matches that of lunar craters postdating the Late Heavy Bombardment, implying that the plains formed no earlier than 3.8 billion years ago (Ga). At diameters less than or equal to 8 to 10 kilometers, secondary impact craters on Mercury are more abundant than primaries; this transition diameter is much larger than that on the Moon or Mars. A low density of craters on the peak-ring basin Raditladi implies that it may be younger than 1 Ga.

Mega-impact formation of the Mars hemispheric dichotomy

The Mars hemispheric dichotomy is expressed as a dramatic difference in elevation, crustal thickness and crater density between the southern highlands and northern lowlands (which cover approximately 42% of the surface). Despite the prominence of the dichotomy, its origin has remained enigmatic and models for its formation largely untested. Endogenic degree-1 convection models with north-south asymmetry are incomplete in that they are restricted to simulating only mantle dynamics and they neglect crustal evolution, whereas exogenic multiple impact events are statistically unlikely to concentrate in one hemisphere. A single mega-impact of the requisite size has not previously been modelled. However, it has been hypothesized that such an event could obliterate the evidence of its occurrence by completely covering the surface with melt or catastrophically disrupting the planet. Here we present a set of single-impact initial conditions by which a large impactor can produce features consistent with the observed dichotomy's crustal structure and persistence. Using three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations, large variations are predicted in post-impact states depending on impact energy, velocity and, importantly, impact angle, with trends more pronounced or unseen in commonly studied smaller impacts. For impact energies of approximately (3-6) x 10(29) J, at low impact velocities (6-10 km s(-1)) and oblique impact angles (30-60 degrees ), the resulting crustal removal boundary is similar in size and ellipticity to the observed characteristics of the lowlands basin. Under these conditions, the melt distribution is largely contained within the area of impact and thus does not erase the evidence of the impact's occurrence. The antiquity of the dichotomy is consistent with the contemporaneous presence of impactors of diameter 1,600-2,700 km in Mars-crossing orbits, and the impact angle is consistent with the expected distribution.

The first new application of the Mathematical Theory of Stochastic Processes to lunar and planetary science: Topography-Profile Diagrams of Mars

The Mathematical Statistics Theory (MST) and the Mathematical Theory of Stochastic Processes (MTSP) are different branches of the more general Mathematical Probability Theory (MPT) that can be used to investigate physical processes through mathematics. Each model of a stochastic process, according to MTSP, can provide one or more interpretations in the MST domain. A large body of work on impact crater statistics according to MST exists, showing cumulative crater frequency (N km −2) as a function of age (years) for some particular crater diameter. However, this is only one possible representation in the MST domain of the bombardment of the planetary surface modeled as a stochastic process according to MTSP. The idea that other representations are possible in the MST domain of the same stochastic process from MTSP has been recently presented. The importance of the approach is that each such mathematical-based interpretation can provide a large amount of new information. Coupled with MOLA data, Topography-Profile Diagrams (TPD) are one of the many examples that can provide a large amount of new information regarding the history of Mars. TPD consists of: (1) Topography-Profile Curve (TPC), which is a representation of the planet’s topography, (2) Density-of-Craters Curve (DCC), which represents density of craters, (3) Filtered-DCC (FDCC), which represents DCC filtered by a low-pass filter, included with the purpose of reducing the noise, and (4) Level-of-Substance-Over-Time Curve (LSOTC), which represents interpretation of the influence on the distribution of craters shown by FDCC. TPC uniquely corresponds to the computation of TPD, whereas DCC depends on algorithms for computing the elevation of each crater according to the topography, center coordinates, and radius of impact crater, and FDCC relies on the architecture of the custom designed low-pass filter for filtering DCC. However, all variations of DCC and FDCC, which includes the various impact crater data sets, showed a correlation among the density of craters and elevation over 70–80% of the planet surface. Additionally, if we assume that the ocean primarily caused the noted correlation, LSOTC offers a mathematical approach for estimating topographic change of the ocean’s extent over time. Accordingly, TPD is the first new practical application of MTSP to lunar and planetary sciences, showing correlation of topography to a physical process.

Effect of obliteration on crater‐count chronologies for Martian surfaces

The density of impact craters calibrated against lunar data is currently the only quantitative measure of surface age for terrestrial planetary surfaces. Unlike the Moon, however, Mars has been weathered and eroded, obliterating some small (&lt;10 km diameter) craters, a phenomenon addressed in the Mariner/Viking days of Mars exploration but commonly overlooked in recent studies. We present a quantitative model that extends this earlier work to assess the effect of erosion and infilling on surface ages inferred from crater‐frequency distributions. Our work affirms that small‐crater size distributions can be interpreted quantitatively in terms of effects of erosion and crater infilling at rates comparable to those reported for Mars. A reanalysis of prior studies indicates that low to moderate long‐term rates of erosion and crater infilling can mask an ancient age and result in small‐crater populations similar to those offered as evidence for young and geologically significant surface activity.

Effect of grain orientation on the morphology, dielectric breakdown and optical behaviour of anodic film formed on Al–2wt%Cu binary alloy

Barrier-type anodic film growth on an Al–2wt%Cu alloy is shown to be dependent upon the crystallographic orientation of the substrate grains. Generally, on grains of orientations near [1 0 0], featureless amorphous films, with parallel film/electrolyte and alloy/film interfaces, are formed. Conversely, on grains of orientations near [1 1 0] and [1 1 1], anodic films with occluded oxygen-filled voids of different shape, size and population density, and with undulating film/electrolyte and alloy/film interfaces, are generated. It is also revealed that the population density of dielectric breakdown craters of the anodic film is dependent on the crystallographic orientation of substrate grains. Further, the anodized Al–Cu alloy shows a grain orientation dependent coloured appearance. The colouring arises from interference and unbalanced reflection of certain wavelengths of light caused by the thin anodic films of different morphologies.

North polar region of Mars: Advances in stratigraphy, structure, and erosional modification

We have remapped the geology of the north polar plateau on Mars, Planum Boreum, and the surrounding plains of Vastitas Borealis using altimetry and image data along with thematic maps resulting from observations made by the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. New and revised geographic and geologic terminologies assist with effectively discussing the various features of this region. We identify 7 geologic units making up Planum Boreum and at least 3 for the circumpolar plains, which collectively span the entire Amazonian Period. The Planum Boreum units resolve at least 6 distinct depositional and 5 erosional episodes. The first major stage of activity includes the Early Amazonian (∼3 to 1 Ga) deposition (and subsequent erosion) of the thick (locally exceeding 1000 m) and evenly-layered Rupes Tenuis unit (A brt), which ultimately formed approximately half of the base of Planum Boreum. As previously suggested, this unit may be sourced by materials derived from the nearby Scandia region, and we interpret that it may correlate with the deposits that regionally underlie pedestal craters in the surrounding lowland plains. The second major episode of activity during the Middle to Late Amazonian ( ∼ < 1 Ga) began with a section of dark, sand-rich and light-toned ice-rich irregularly-bedded sequences (Planum Boreum cavi unit, A bb c) along with deposition of evenly-bedded light-toned ice- and moderate-toned dust-rich layers (Planum Boreum 1 unit, A bb 1). These units have transgressive and gradational stratigraphic relationships. Materials in Olympia Planum underlying the dunes of Olympia Undae are interpreted to consist mostly of the Planum Boreum cavi unit (A bb c). Planum Boreum materials were then deeply eroded to form spiral troughs, Chasma Boreale, and marginal scarps that define the major aspects of the polar plateau's current regional topography. Locally- to regionally-extensive (though vertically minor) episodes of deposition of evenly-bedded, light- and dark-toned layered materials and subsequent erosion of these materials persisted throughout the Late Amazonian. Sand saltation, including dune migration, is likely to account for much of the erosion of Planum Boreum, particularly at its margin, alluding to the lengthy sedimentological history of the circum-polar dune fields. Such erosion has been controlled largely by topographic effects on wind patterns and the variable resistance to erosion of materials (fresh and altered) and physiographic features. Some present-day dune fields may be hundreds of kilometers removed from possible sources along the margins of Planum Boreum, and dark materials, comprised of sand sheets, extend even farther downwind. These deposits also attest to the lengthy period of erosion following emplacement of the Planum Boreum 1 unit. We find no evidence for extensive glacial flow, topographic relaxation, or basal melting of Planum Boreum materials. However, minor development of normal faults and wrinkle ridges may suggest differential compaction of materials across buried scarps. Timing relations are poorly-defined mostly because resurfacing and other uncertainties prohibit precise determinations of surface impact crater densities. The majority of the stratigraphic record may predate the recent (<20 Ma) part of the orbitally-driven climate record that can be reliably calculated. Given the strong stratigraphic but loose temporal constraints of the north polar geologic record, a comparison of north and south polar stratigraphy permits a speculative scenario in which major Amazonian depositional and erosional episodes driven by global climate activity is plausible.

Telling Time on Mars

PLANETARY SCIENCE Our primary information on the surface age and geologic history of Mars comes from crater densities on different parts of the planet and from dating of Martian meteorites (though their source region on Mars is not known with certainty). Crater ages imply that most of the crust is

The use of secondary information in geostatistical target area identification

The identification and characterization of target areas at former bombing ranges is the first step in investigating these sites for residual unexploded ordnance. Traditionally, magnetometer surveys along transects are used in identifying areas with high densities of magnetic anomalies, which are likely former target areas. Combining magnetometer survey data with other data sources may reduce the level of survey data required for site characterization, increasing characterization efficiency. Here, several techniques for incorporating secondary information into kriging estimates of magnetic anomaly density are investigated for a former bombing range located near Pueblo, Colorado. In particular, kriging with external drift, collocated ordinary cokriging, and simple kriging with local means (SKLM) are used to incorporate information from a secondary variable. The secondary variable consists of a grid of crater density values derived from a topographic light detection and ranging (LIDAR) analysis. The craters, which are clearly identifiable in the LIDAR data, were generated through munitions use at the site and are therefore related to the target locations. The results from this study indicate that the inclusion of the secondary information in the kriging estimates does benefit target area characterization and provides a means of elucidating target area details from only limited magnetometer transect data. For the Pueblo site, the use of SKLM with the crater density as a secondary variable and only limited magnetometer transect data, provided results comparable to those obtained from using much larger magnetometer transect data sets.

The Geophysics of Mercury: Current Status and Anticipated Insights from the MESSENGER Mission

Current geophysical knowledge of the planet Mercury is based upon observations from ground-based astronomy and flybys of the Mariner 10 spacecraft, along with theoretical and computational studies. Mercury has the highest uncompressed density of the terrestrial planets and by implication has a metallic core with a radius approximately 75% of the planetary radius. Mercury’s spin rate is stably locked at 1.5 times the orbital mean motion. Capture into this state is the natural result of tidal evolution if this is the only dissipative process affecting the spin, but the capture probability is enhanced if Mercury’s core were molten at the time of capture. The discovery of Mercury’s magnetic field by Mariner 10 suggests the possibility that the core is partially molten to the present, a result that is surprising given the planet’s size and a surface crater density indicative of early cessation of significant volcanic activity. A present-day liquid outer core within Mercury would require either a core sulfur content of at least several weight percent or an unusual history of heat loss from the planet’s core and silicate fraction. A crustal remanent contribution to Mercury’s observed magnetic field cannot be ruled out on the basis of current knowledge. Measurements from the MESSENGER orbiter, in combination with continued ground-based observations, hold the promise of setting on a firmer basis our understanding of the structure and evolution of Mercury’s interior and the relationship of that evolution to the planet’s geological history.

The geology of the Viking Lander 2 site revisited

Reevaluating the geologic history of the prior Mars landing sites provides important ground truth for recent and ongoing orbital missions. At the Viking 2 Lander (VL2) site, topographic measurements of relict landforms indicate that at least 100 m of sedimentary mantle material has been stripped away. The observed paucity of impact craters <100 m in diameter suggests that resurfacing processes (likely in the form of the recent deposition and removal of thin 1–10 m mantle layers) continue up to the present. A dearth of craters in the 100–500 m diameter range, however, also necessitates erosion of a thicker mantle layer. Partially inverted chains of secondary craters from nearby Mie Crater indicate that the mantle was already in place when the impact occurred. The density of craters superposed on Mie ejecta is consistent with a Late Hesperian age and provides a minimum age constraint for the mantle's emplacement. The thermophysical properties of the surface around VL2 as observed with Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) data indicate that the landing site occurs in an intracrater region that may typify mid to high northern latitude sites. Elevated thermal inertias of a pedestal crater superposed atop a larger pedestal crater suggest that rocky or indurated material can be created by impacts into sedimentary targets. Rock abundances at VL2 are consistent with the addition of impact-emplaced material from the missing small impact crater population documented in this study. Thus, the VL2 site may be a reasonable proxy for the landscape expected at the upcoming Phoenix Lander site.

Inversion of relief on Mars

Relief inversion has been invoked to explain a number of geomorphic features of the martian surface. Terrestrial relief inversion occurs when former depressions become elevated because their fill is more resistant to erosion than the surrounding terrain. It is a common product of long-term landscape evolution on Earth, especially in relatively stable intra-cratonic settings and flat, or near flat lying successions. The inverted relief will preserve relicts of former land surfaces and is therefore older than the surrounding terrain. Relief inversion can occur by a range of processes, including infill of depressions by intrinsically resistant material, selective secondary cementation via diagenesis and weathering, or surface armouring. We examine a number of possible cases of inverted relief on Mars that appear to have formed by these three processes. We suggest that the most likely cementing agents for surface induration are iron oxides, silica, and sulfates. Possible cementation mechanisms include fluid mixing during regional groundwater flow, cooling of hydrothermal or basinal fluids as they near the surface, and evaporation and sublimation of near surface water. Wind action appears the most common erosive process on Mars capable of the regional landscape lowering necessary for relief inversion to occur, unlike on Earth where both deflation and runoff are important. Preliminary crater densities of selected features show that the tops of the proposed inverted relief have considerably more craters than the surrounding plains, as is predicted by the inversion hypothesis. More accurate dating of inverted surfaces and the adjacent areas may provide a simple way of measuring the degree of erosion over time in at least some areas of Mars.