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Erosional development of bedrock spur and gully topography in the Valles Marineris, MarsGully networks separated by resistant bedrock spurs are a common erosional feature along the escarpments that border the Valles Marineris. The resistant spur topography is best developed where the base of the slope is truncated by linear scarps interpreted as fault scarps. Regional variations in slope morphology imply that spur and gully topography undergoes a systematic progressive degradation through time associated with the erosional destruction of the basal fault scarps. The comparative morphometry of the divide networks indicates that the density of the spur networks and the number of first-order unbranched spurs decreases as the basal slope break becomes more sinuous. Abstraction of the spurs occurs through regolith storage in adjacent gullies at the slope base and the most degraded slope forms are entirely buried in talus. The basal fault scarps apparently control regolith transport by allowing debris to drain from the slope. As these basal scarps decay the slope base becomes increasingly sinuous and the slopes become transport limited. Dry mass-wasting may be the most important process acting on these slopes where a continually lowered base level is required to maintain the spur topography. In contrast to the Martian slopes, range front fault escarpments in the western U.S. show no systematic trend in spur network geometry as they are eroded. These weathering limited slopes are controlled by the more efficient removal of regolith through fluvial processes which rapidly create quasi-equilibrium drainage networks.
Document ID
19900014497
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Patton, Peter C. (Wesleyan Univ. Middletown, CT, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:180655
NASA-CR-180655
Accession Number
90N23813
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-0244
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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