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MartianChronicle |
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| ...dedicated to chronicling the story of Mars, via the Frass Meteorite! | ||
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6/1/99
The Prehistory of Mars
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µnote: The latest topographical maps of Mars have been released and this document represents my first attempt at defining the total prehistory of Mars. This model, chronicling the story of Mars, has been developed by looking at all of the information that NASA has presented on the Internet, and by the evidence found within the Frass Meteorite. Of course, I have no way of knowing the exact time line, so I have taken the liberty of making up my own time line. It will be interesting to see how close I am to the actual numbers, once they become known. I don't know what is happening about my request to speak before the NASA Oversight Committee, but I do know its more fun just thinking about Mars and trying to figure out what really happened there. I think the evidence is going to show that Mars is a much more exiting place, than we once thought. Anyway, have fun reading about this proposed prehistory of Mars. Your friend,
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| 4.5ga Mars, like the rest of our solar system, first came together as a distinct body about 4 and 1/2 billion years ago. Mars, like the rest of our solar system, is made of the debris of other, more ancient solar systems, whose sun exploded and sent its material and the material from its planets soaring through space. Then, 4 and 1/2 billion years ago, this material, and material from other exploded suns, happened to come together in our "area" of space and began forming our solar system, with its sun and planets. Mars is a very unique planet, in that the entire history of the planet still shows on its surface, while the other rocky planets, Mercury, Venus, and Earth, have all continued to rework their surfaces over the eons of time. Therefore, Mars offers us a unique opportunity to see the entire cycle of the life of a planet displayed before us. There are some very strong correlations with our own planet and I believe there are important lessons to be learned by studying the planet Mars. As the material came together to form Mars, one could think of the planet much as a round ball. The material making up the planet would be similar to asteroids and comets that we know today. As this material came together, new connections of gravity would be made, and soon these once separated pieces of "space" would be communicating with each other and thus come to share a common gravitational frame of reference. All of these new pieces would now start "working together" as gravity pulled them into the shape of a ball, or sphere. All of this new mass would then begin to heat under the pressure of the gravitational pull of the planet and this heating would melt all of this material and make it "flexible" enough to shape itself into this primal "ball" shape. In the pictures below, one can see the original surface of Mars represented as the light blue color and labeled with the number 9.
The picture above is a "flat" topographical representation of Mars, while the two below show the same features, but in a three dimensional view. Thus, each number above corresponds with the same number in the picture below. Be aware, that the colors represent differences in altitude and are not the colors of Mars. However, these colors do very closely resemble what Mars might have looked like in the days when the big volcanoes were still active and when Mars still had an ocean and an atmosphere.
So in the two pictures above, the light blue area labeled number 9, would represent the ancient surface of Mars as it first came together to form into a planet. During this very early period, the planet was probably much more "round" than it is today. None of the dark blue areas would have been there and none of the greens and yellows and reds would have been there either. As time wore on, the energy of the planet would have concentrated at the center and a molten core would form. You can think of the planet as being all molten to start with, but then, over time, the outside (or crust) cools and hardens. As time passes, the crust gets thicker and the core gets smaller. As the crust hardens, the new energy derived from the gravitational forces of the planet, would then need to "find" its way to the surface, and so this would mark the beginning of the volcanic activity on Mars: activity that has continued until this very day. On Earth, the planet was larger and thus had more energy. The surface of our planet broke into several tectonic plates that have constantly been on the move and thus the volcanic activity on our planet has occurred over the entire surface, at one time or another. But on Mars, the plates formed, but there wasn't enough energy to move them around. So on Mars, the volcanoes "lined up" along these splits and have mostly been restricted to a single "side" of the planet. The other "side" has gone mostly untouched by the actions of volcanoes and thus is very much like it was at the very beginning of the planet's history. The "older" Martian rocks, such as ALH 84001 represent some of this ancient material, since it has been dated at 4.5ga, or 4 and 1/2 billion years old. But Mars wasn't destined to be a "round" ball. Even though it didn't have as much energy as Earth, it still was large enough to generate considerable energy of its own, and this energy needed a way to "escape" the planets interior. On Mars, most of the energy of its core escaped through a hand full of very large volcanoes that have basically been active during the entire lifetime of the planet. It is hard to imagine a volcano that lasts for over 4 billion years, but Mars seems to show this feature. So what happened to make Mars look as it does today?
The answer lies in these large volcanoes. These large volcanoes, shown clustered around number 6, are best seen in the "flat" view of Mars or in 3D view above. They were actually the "engines" that drove the entire planet and supported the life that evolved there. It must have been something to see, when these volcanoes were spewing tons and tons of vapors and materials on to the surface. The atmosphere and the ocean, both owe their existence to these large volcanoes. Gasses, including water vapor, were poured into the atmosphere. Water vapors condensed and fell to the ground where they collected and eventually made their way to the main "river" of Mars which fed the single ocean of Mars. If one looks at the first picture above, one can clearly see where the water would run off to the right and down through the large canyon and into the ocean. All of the areas shown in green, yellow, red and white, would all be areas that would result from the flow of lava from these, and other, volcanoes. The shoreline would have been the yellow color, while the green color and the blues would have been under the ocean, once it formed. But the surface of Mars was not shaped by only the volcanoes, as another very violent force continued to shape the surface of the planet for the rest of its life: asteroid impacts. There have been five major impacts and countless smaller ones. Each of these large impacts have had a major influence on the evolution of the planet, just as large impacts have changed the evolution of our own planet. 4.0 Ga The planet is now formed and volcanism has started. But most of the volcanism is restricted to a single "side" of the planet. Now comes the first large asteroid to hit the planet, after the planet was fully formed. The first impact is labeled as number 1 in the two pictures above. It is best seen in the second picture, since the "flat" view of Mars "hides" the true structure of the topography. A very large asteroid hit Mars, very near the North pole, as we view it today. This large impact had two major effects on the planet. The first effect was to "deepen" the ocean and essentially make room for the water that was coming from the large volcano systems. If you follow the path of the water from the volcanoes, down across the plains, through the large river system and out to the ocean, one sees that it would end up in the giant "hole" made when the asteroid impacted. The second effect of this strike, was to create the land mass for the North Pole of Mars, by starting its volcanism. If you examine the maps above carefully, one can see that almost all of the volcanic activity took place on a single side of the planet. But the North Pole is raised above the surrounding territory and the only way this could happen on Mars would be by volcanic activity, since there was no colliding of tectonic plates, which is how many mountain ranges on Earth have been raised. So why did this one "little" volcano form on the North Pole of Mars? I think it formed after the impact of the large asteroid labeled number 1. When this asteroid hit, it broke through the surface layer of Mars and "cracked" the crust, so that molten material from the core could come to the surface. This process continued for perhaps the first billion years of the planets history, but was never as large or big as the giants further south. So the material was raised out of the ocean and the North Pole of Mars represents a separate volcano that was probably covered with water for part of its existence, and then later became exposed when the level of the ocean dropped and when the volcano raised itself high enough. One can see the extreme erosion suffered by this volcano in the picture below.
3.5ga During this time, two more of the large asteroids again hit the planet and further shaped the landscape. These are labeled as number 2 and 3 in the topographic pictures above. Number 3 landed in the ocean and further deepened that portion of the ocean. Since two large asteroids have hit in the ocean area, I would think that large portions of ocean would have been "knocked" completely off the planet. Thus, at least some of the comets floating around our solar system may well be the ancient oceans of Mars. Since it appears that many comets have some solid material at their core, it should be possible to prove this hypothesis, once we get to these comets and sample their materials. The other major "hit" during this time is labeled as number 2. This asteroid hit Mars on "land" and probably didn't disrupt the oceans as much. But it probably then filled with water and became a lake of it own. The photos clearly show evidence of water eroding into this crater and I believe it held water for much of its existence. You can even see where some of the water from the big volcanoes made its way toward this crater and probably helped keep the "lake" full. 3.0 Ga The flows of lava were not limited to the few large volcanoes, but most of the southern portion of the planet was covered by smaller volcanoes. These are marked as number 10. The number 8 shows a large volcanic system that is very near the south pole. The larger volcanoes show definite cone structures, but most of these smaller volcanoes were not this classic shape and were formed when the lava just "oozed" out. Thus, these volcanoes spread out more and none of them reached the great heights achieved by the giants. 2.0 Ga Next we have the very large asteroid impact that is labeled as number 4 above. This is the very large impact that all the scientist have been talking about. This impact was as large as the distance from the East coast of American all the way to the Rocky Mountains. This was a very large impact, but since it didn't hit in the ocean, I don't think it affected the planet nearly as much as the ones that did strike the ocean. This impact occurred while the planet still had an atmosphere and oceans and while the big volcanoes were still going. One can see where water has eroded channels into this large impact crater, but one can also see where the volcanism continued after the strike. Several volcanoes probably arose from the bottom of this crater and one near its southern side seems to have covered over part of the crater. 1.0 Ga Some time during this period, the giant volcanoes began to shut down. Side vent flows continued, but the massive release of water vapor and gasses into the atmosphere began to decline and eventually fail completely. Now only the small side vents were releasing material into the atmosphere and the ocean began to dry and the atmosphere began to get thinner. There was still plenty of water on the surface and plenty of atmosphere for creatures to live, but time was now running out, since there was no way to replenish the water necessary for life. The ocean level began dropping and the shoreline exposed more and more of the ancient ocean floor bed. 49ma The volcano labeled as number 7 above had spent most of its existence as an island in the single ocean of Mars. It started along a crack in the tectonic plates and may have been influenced by the strike of the asteroid that landed at number 3. It is in direct line with the other large volcano to its right that was part of the "massive 4" that supplied most of the water for the planet Mars. But this number 7 volcano was a very large volcano and was active for most, if not all, of the history of Mars. Over the ages, it too had lost its energy and now only small side vent flows were changing the landscape. The ocean had once lapped its sides and we can see the ancient ocean shoreline around its circumference in the picture below.
The side venting had started near the caldera of this volcano and continued down its south side. This paralleled a water course that emptied water from the caldera into the ocean. After the ocean retreated, water still continued down this watercourse and eventually probably made it to the ocean. But side vent volcanism continued and we can see it in the raised areas just outside the circumference of the volcano. This would have been the floor of the ocean, and so would have been made of small particles washed in the ocean and would still have the littered bodies of those creatures who had died and dropped to the bottom of the ocean floor. Also, as the ocean retreated, it would have left a trail of debris, representing the things that had lived in or near the ocean. So 49 million years ago, lava poured from a side vent of this volcano. Mars still had an atmosphere, even though it was growing thinner as the years passed. This volcanic material flowed through the sand that remained from the ocean and picked up pieces of the sand and its contents as it rolled over and through the sand. Many of the pieces of lava were small and eventually were covered with water, as the venting continued to put small amounts of water vapor into the air. This vapor would fall back to the ground and collect in small pools where survivors of Mars life could "play" in the water of these small pools. Life was hard, but it still continued until this day. 45 ma The death of Mars was now nearing a final chapter. The latest, if not the greatest of the five great asteroid impacts hit Mars and forever changed the surface of the planet. This time the impact was at the edge of the ocean and it is represented as number 5 above. This time much material, including more of the ocean, was thrown into space and lost to Mars forever. And this time, there were no longer any giant volcanoes to "resurrect" the planet. The energy was gone and this last blow removed most of the remaining atmosphere. The planet had been dealt a fatal blow by this last great asteroid impact. Most of the life on the planet was now doomed. The oceans breathed their last breath and water could only be found near the few remaining side vents that still covered most of the southern part of the planet. But without the large volcanoes putting material back into the atmosphere and back into the ocean, they both had effectively died. 13 ma The side venting continued, and the volcano above once again became active, and very near the place where lava had flowed 36 million years before. Once again the lava flowed over the ancient ocean floor, but this time, there were small pieces of the lava still remaining there from the flow that occurred at 49ma. As this new lava flowed over the old, the hot lava stuck to the old lava, which had now turned more red, since the small amounts of water vapor had oxidized some of the iron in the older flow. This new lava was more of a gray color and it had much larger vesicles than the older red lava, since now the atmosphere was almost completely gone. Thus, with less pressure, the vesicles were larger and picked up larger pieces of the ancient sea bed. For the next 10 million years, the rocks formed from these lava flows just sat there. There was no longer any rain. Nothing happened, except the dust would blow and sometimes be deposited here and there. For 10 million years, this rock showed no signs of any weather what-so-ever. 3 ma By this time, most of the creatures of Mars were now dead. Only those primitive species that had adapted to a world of no water had survived. Some of these creatures were quietly "munching" on the dead bodies from the past, finding energy in molecules that had been assembled years before when the creatures lived their lives. All was peaceful and quiet until another asteroid would forever change the face of Mars: and Earth. This asteroid struck in the very place we have been describing and "knocked" more material from the surface of the planet Mars, sending this material hurtling into space. 1971 A piece of the surface of Mars lands on the Frass Ranch. The next day, a good looking ranch hand comes upon this piece of cosmic debris and promptly claims it as the answer to a childhood prayer. Thus, this is the story of how the Frass Meteorite came to be upon this Earth and how it came to be in my possession. present Much is still the same on Mars. Small side vents of larger volcanoes still spew gasses and water vapor into the air, from time to time. This freezes almost immediately and falls back to Mars where it still collects in small pools after being warmed by the volcano itself. Some of the small creatures of Mars have managed to survive and they still go about their business on Mars, waiting for us to join them when we finally arrive on Mars ourselves. Wouldn't you like to be one of the ones that first see the "Martians" living in their own world? Then study hard, work hard, and maybe someday, you will. I have often been asked what I think the ultimate message of the Frass Meteorite might be. I have always said that it was too early to say, but now I think it may become very clear. Mars was "killed" by an asteroid impact. At the present time, the entire Earth and all of its inhabitants are much like the little duck in the shooting galary. We have as much control over our fate, as the little duck that mechanically "swims" across the front of the firing line. It can't change the direction of any bullet that is headed its way, and neither can we change the direction of any asteroid that happens to come our way. Now we learn of a new asteroid that is heading our way. My proposal is that we capture this asteroid, put it in high Earth orbit or lunar orbit, mine it for its resources, and make a new destination for people to travel to in space. For more information, see the Asteroid Capture Project, under philosophy papers at www.micromike.com. When one has lemons, make lemonade. In 30 years, mankind could be mining all of its metals from asteroids and leave the Earth alone to grow new things, which is what it does best. Your friend,
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