Strata structure interpretation and mud volcanism activity analysis at
the Zhurong landing site
Dong Wang
Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Author ProfileAbstract
China’s first Mars Exploration Mission Tianwen-1 achieved full success.
The loaded Zhurong Rover landed south of the Utopia Planita. The
Tianwen-1 orbiter also sending back high-resolution images. We utilized
the High-Resolution Imaging Camera (HiRIC) of Tianwen-1 and Context
Camera loaded on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to collect the image
data and construct a 3D strata model of the Zhurong landing site. Using
this model, we analyzed the material loss of ghost craters. Judging from
the morphological characteristics of pitted cones at the Zhurong landing
site, we confirmed their classification as mud volcanoes. We also
analyzed the possible cause of formation by combining the gravity field
and magnetic field data. The experimental results indicate that (1) the
Zhurong landing site can be divided into the dry sedimentary, moisture
sedimentary, and Vastitas boreal (VB) members as three strata and
another ejecta blocks. The three strata are categorized into VB
formations with an integral width of 1.2 km. (2) The cones at the
Zhurong landing site are mud volcanoes formed by groundwater thermal
activity, and the heat source originate from a southern underground
magma chamber. The density of mud volcanoes signifies the existence of
ejecta blocks. (3) Apart from volumetric compaction, some ghost craters
show eruption of underground substances. Generally, after the VB unit
located on the surface of the Zhurong landing site formed at 3.43 Ga,
the current geomorphology of the landing site was altered due to the
differentiation of water evaporation above ground and underground,
underground thermal activity, and meteorite impacts.