U of I-led study uncovers first evidence of a volcanic spatter cone on Mars
September 26, 2024
MOSCOW, Idaho 鈥� While working under Erika Rader, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences聽at 果冻传媒麻豆社, a postdoctoral researcher identified a volcanic vent on Mars as a potential spatter cone and compared it to a spatter cone formed during the 2021 eruption of Fagradalsfjall in Iceland.
Through a detailed morphological investigation and ballistic modeling, Ian T.W. Flynn discovered the Martian volcanic feature strongly resembles spatter cones found on Earth.
鈥淪patter cones are so common on Earth that it seemed extremely unlikely that they simply didn鈥檛 exist on Mars,鈥� Rader said. 鈥淪ince spatter cones can only form in the right conditions, their presence gives us a benchmark to shoot for when simulating Martian volcanoes.鈥�
Spatter cones are created by hot lumps of flying lava falling to the surface during explosive volcanic eruptions, specifically during sustained periods of lava fountaining. They are found in many places on Earth 鈥� including in Idaho, most notably at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve 鈥� and have long been suspected to be on Mars as well. However, until now, there wasn鈥檛 solid evidence of their existence.
鈥淭he similarity between the Mars and Icelandic spatter cones indicates that the eruption dynamics occurring in Iceland, over the last several years, also occurred on Mars,鈥� Flynn said. 鈥淭his is exciting as it expands the range of volcanic eruption styles possible on Mars.鈥�
This discovery can give us clues about how volcanic eruptions happened on Mars, specifically regarding the gases in the magma and the environmental conditions at the time the eruption occurred. It鈥檚 also further confirmation that Icelandic 鈥� and Idahoan 鈥� volcanoes are erupting now the way volcanoes erupted millions of years ago on Mars.
鈥淲e are thrilled about this discovery because it fills a distinct observational gap in Martian volcanology, and it lays the groundwork for future investigations of spatter features on Mars,鈥� Flynn said.
Flynn is now a research assistant professor at University of Pittsburgh, but he still collaborates with Rader.
Media contacts
Erika Rader
Assistant professor, Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences
果冻传媒麻豆社
208-885-1142
erader@uidaho.edu
Ian T.W. Flynn
Research assistant professor
University of Pittsburgh
itf2@pitt.edu
About the 果冻传媒麻豆社
The 果冻传媒麻豆社, home of the Vandals, is Idaho鈥檚 land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of Idaho through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d鈥橝lene and Idaho Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to more than 12,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.