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Autori principali: Mantegazza, Mara, Spagnuolo, Mauro G., Rossi, Angelo P.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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Accesso online:https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21755
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author Mantegazza, Mara
Spagnuolo, Mauro G.
Rossi, Angelo P.
author_facet Mantegazza, Mara
Spagnuolo, Mauro G.
Rossi, Angelo P.
contents 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. 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.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_21755
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Multidisciplinary analysis of pit craters at Hale Crater, Mars
Mantegazza, Mara
Spagnuolo, Mauro G.
Rossi, Angelo P.
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
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. 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.
title Multidisciplinary analysis of pit craters at Hale Crater, Mars
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21755