The Island Origins of Mars' Olympus Mons
Originally Published 2 years ago — by National Geographic
The massive Olympus Mons volcano on Mars may have once been an island in a Martian ocean, according to a new study. Researchers have identified an escarpment at the base of the volcano that resembles those found on volcanic islands on Earth. They suggest that Olympus Mons formed as a volcanic island approximately 3.8 billion years ago. However, other experts question this theory, proposing that the escarpments could have been formed by lava flows without encountering water. Further research and rock samples are needed to determine the true origin of these features and the existence of a Martian ocean in the past.