Tectonic graben structures in Acheron Fossae
Tectonic graben structures in Acheron Fossae
Acheron Fossae is a region approximately 800 kilometres in length, shaped by pronounced tectonic extension forces and located north of the massive shield volcano Olympus Mons. To the south, the edge of the graben system transitions into lower-lying plains. Acheron Fossae exhibits a typical horst-and-graben surface structure, which formed more than 3.7 billion years ago due to crustal deformation. Several parallel tectonic faults caused blocks of crust to sink between the remaining elevated flanks – the grabens between the horsts.
