Mineralogy and morphology of geologic units at Libya Montes, Mars: Ancient aqueously derived outcrops, mafic flows, fluvial features, and impacts

TLDR

The Libya Montes region south of Isidis Basin contains extensive evidence of ancient fluvial activity and chemical alteration, with Noachian to Amazonian surface rocks rich in olivine, pyroxene, and diverse Fe/Mg‑ and Al‑smectite phyllosilicates. The authors attribute the mineral units to hydrothermal alteration linked to the Isidis Basin impact and regional fluvial processes, and they characterize their morphology and stratigraphy using high‑resolution imaging and stereo camera digital terrain models. CRISM spectra reveal distinct Fe/Mg‑smectite chemistries (nontronite‑like vs saponite‑like), carbonate signatures co‑existing with olivine and Fe/Mg‑smectite, and Al‑smectite consistent with beidellite, leading the authors to interpret a sequence of aqueous alteration during the Isidis impact, subsequent olivine‑rich lava emplacement, and final deposition of a pyroxene‑rich caprock.

Abstract

Abstract There is ample evidence of both ancient and long‐lasting fluvial activity and chemical alteration in the Libya Montes region south of Isidis Basin. The region hosts Noachian to Amazonian aged surface rocks with extensive outcrops of olivine‐ and pyroxene‐bearing material. Libya Montes also features surface outcrops and/or deposits hosting Fe/Mg‐smectite, Fe/Mg‐smectite mixed with carbonate and/or other Fe/Mg‐rich phyllosilicates, and Al‐smectite. These units likely formed through chemical alteration connected with hydrothermal activity resulting from the formation of the Isidis Basin and/or the pervasive fluvial activity throughout this region. The morphology and stratigraphy of the aqueous and mafic minerals are described using High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment and High Resolution Stereo Camera derived digital terrain models. Analyses of the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars spectra show variations in the chemistry of the Fe/Mg‐smectite from nontronite‐like exposures with spectral features near 2.29 and 2.4 µm more consistent with Fe 3+ 2 OH groups in the mineral structure, and saponite‐like outcrops with spectral features near 2.31 and 2.38 µm characteristic of Mg 2+ 3 OH groups. These Fe/Mg‐smectite bearing materials also have bands near 1.9 µm due to H 2 O and near 2.5 µm that could be due to the smectite, other phyllosilicates, and carbonates. All regions exhibiting carbonate features near 3.4–3.5 µm also have features consistent with the presence of olivine and Fe/Mg‐smectite, indicating that the carbonate signatures occur in rocks likely containing a mixture of these minerals. The Al‐smectite‐bearing rocks have bands near 1.41, 1.91, and 2.19 µm that are more consistent with beidellite than other Al‐phyllosilicates, indicating a higher‐temperature or diagenetically processed origin for this material. Our interpretation of the geologic history of this region is that ancient Noachian basaltic crustal materials experienced extensive aqueous alteration at the time of the Isidis impact, during which the montes were also formed, followed by emplacement of a rough olivine‐rich lava or melt, and finally the smooth pyroxene‐bearing caprock unit.