%0 Journal Article
%A Anguita Virella, Francisco
%A Anguita, Jorge
%A Castilla Cañamero, Gabriel
%A Casa, Miguel Ángel de la
%A Domínguez, José María
%A Herrera, R.
%A Llanes Estrada, María Pilar
%A López, Mónica
%A Martínez, Vicente
%T Arabia Terra, Mars: tectonic and palaeoclimatic evolution of a remarkable sector of martian lithosphere
%D 1997
%@ 0167-9295
%U https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/59070
%X Abstract. A regional geologic study of Arabia Terra, a densely cratered area of Mars northernhemisphere, has revealed the individuality of this province. This is best expressed by an equatorialbelt with a crater age distinctly younger as compared to the northern part of Arabia Terra and toNoachis Terra to the south. We interpret this as an incipient back-arc system provoked by the subductionof Mars lowlands under Arabia Terra during Noachian times. The regional fracture patternsare also best explained in this manner, making it unnecessary to appeal to a rotational instability ofthe planet, which is not supported by the palaeoclimatic indicators in the area. This model could bethe first regional-scale confirmation of Sleep’s (1994) hypothesis of a limited plate consumption asan explanation of the martian dichotomy.
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