AGE RELATIONS OF MARTIAN HIGHLAND DRAINAGE BASINS

Dendritic valley patterns in the equatorial highlands of Mars show evidence of internal drainage into restricted basins, which are interpreted to be floored with sedimentary fill. Based on crater frequency characteristics of six areas of enclosed basins, the origin of these intercrater plains fill units ranges from middle to late Noachian. In contrast, the age of modification of the same plains units derived from the frequency of fresh craters occupies a relatively narrow range centered on the Noachian/Hesperian boundary. In half the areas studied the timing of highlands and plains crater modification is consistent with a sedimentary origin for basin fill materials. The other plains units most likely consist of interlayered sedimentary and volcanic materials. Relations between the age of stability of these internally drained highland units and their elevation are not as distinct as prior studies suggested; a trend of decreasing age with decreasing elevation for the plains materials is not matched by similarly derived ages of the dissected highlands. Remapping and age dating of the dissected highlands and associated basins suggest that volcanic plains may be more extensive than those used in past models for magma and Volatile evolution, and support local volcanism rather than a global-scale magmatic head model for highlands plains formation.