Abstract
OF all the large shield volcanoes of Mars, Olympus Mons is unique in being fringed by a nearly continuous scarp rising 1–4 km above the surrounding terrain1,2 (Fig. 1). We present evidence that the scarp was caused by preferential erosion of fragmental cratered terrain material previously adjacent to, and at present underlying the shield volcano. Removal of this material caused undercutting and collapse of the shield flanks, producing the observed terraces and scarps.
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HEAD, J., SETTLE, M. & WOOD, C. Origin of Olympus Mons Escarpment by erosion of pre-volcano substrate. Nature 263, 667–668 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/263667a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/263667a0
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