Multidisciplinary analysis of pit craters at Hale Crater, Mars

Abstract

Pit craters are circular to subcircular depressions that lack a rim and ejecta layer and typically have a conical shape. There are several mechanisms that can explain the formation of such depressions and they are associated with collapse due to the removal of subsurface material. Possible origins of pit craters include: volcanic processes (collapse of lava tubes, magmatic chambers, intrusion of dikes), karstic dissolution, extensional faulting or volatile processes. In this work, we study pit craters in the north-estern external slope of Hale Crater. We identified >40 pit craters that present unique morphological features in association with different landforms associated with volatile activity in the area. We identified moraine like ridges, gullies and aprons together with pits that represent an interesting suite of landforms. After producing a detailed geomorphic map, we classified the pits into: i) single pit craters, ii) chain pit craters, iii) complex pit craters and iv) elongated pit craters. We used DTMs to determine orientation and slopes of the pit craters-hosting terrains and to analyze elevation profiles of the different types of pits and their relation with the gullies and other features. In addition, we performed a spectral analysis using CRISM multispectral dataset in order to characterize the mineralogy of the sediments in the region and to identify any distinctive properties that could promote the formation of these depressions. Here, we propose that pit craters are stratigraphically on top of the ice-related landforms and present complex relationships with the gullies. The spatial relationship between the pits and these structures, along with the absence of evidence of present or past volcanic activity and the lack of evidence of any extensional faulting allows us to propose that the origin of the pit craters in the study area might be related to some volatile process. We propose here that these particular pit craters at Hale crater, are morphologically similar to Icelandic depressions located in a glacial environment. We conclude that the landforms found in the area are in close relation with glacial or periglacial conditions and pit craters might be formed by sublimation/melting of ground ice.