Mars' Ancient Volcanoes: Clues to Earth's Past
A new survey of Mars' Eridania region suggests that the planet was once littered with massive and explosive volcanoes, providing clues to Earth's early crustal evolution. The region's intensely magnetized crust and evidence of an ancient Martian sea have led researchers to identify various types of volcanoes, indicating a period of vigorous geologic activity some 3.5 billion years ago. The study's findings could offer insights into early Solar System geological conditions and the evolution of planetary landscapes.