Discovery of Volcanic Spatter Cone on Mars Reveals New Insights into The Planet’s Geological History

In a landmark discovery for planetary science, researchers have found the first conclusive evidence of a volcanic spatter cone on Mars. This finding provides key insights into the volcanic history of the Red Planet and draws important parallels between Martian and Earth-based volcanic processes.

Led by Ian Flynn, a postdoctoral researcher, and guided by Erika Rader, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences, the study identifies a long-suspected feature on Mars, expanding our understanding of its geological past.

The Formation and Significance of Spatter Cones

Spatter cones form during explosive volcanic eruptions when molten fragments of lava are ejected into the air and fall back to accumulate around a volcanic vent. On Earth, these features are typically found in volcanic regions like Iceland and Idaho, including at Craters of the Moon National Monument. The new discovery on Mars reveals that similar volcanic processes may have taken place there, adding a new dimension to our understanding of the planet’s volcanic activity.

Through a detailed combination of morphological investigation and ballistic modeling, the researchers identified a volcanic vent on Mars that closely resembles spatter cones formed during the 2021 eruption of Fagradalsfjall in Iceland. Flynn remarked on the significance of this finding, stating, “The 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.” This suggests that Mars, like Earth, experienced sustained periods of lava fountaining, during which molten lava was repeatedly expelled and deposited around volcanic vents.

Clues to Martian Volcanic History

This discovery is not just a confirmation of a suspected feature on Mars but also provides vital clues about the conditions under which these volcanic eruptions took place. Spatter cones are formed under specific conditions that involve explosive eruptions, the presence of volcanic gases, and environmental factors such as temperature and pressure. The identification of this feature on Mars allows researchers to delve deeper into the planet's volcanic processes and how they compare to those on Earth.

Flynn’s findings demonstrate that spatter cones on Mars likely formed in a manner similar to those on Earth, which has important implications for understanding the gases in Martian magma and the environmental conditions during past eruptions. As Flynn explained, “This expands the range of volcanic eruption styles possible on Mars,” providing scientists with more data to simulate volcanic activity on the planet. Such simulations could offer a clearer picture of how Martian volcanoes operated and what environmental conditions were like during their periods of activity.

Expanding Our Understanding of Martian Volcanism

The identification of spatter cones on Mars is a significant step in filling a major gap in Martian volcanology. Assistant Professor Erika Rader emphasized the importance of this discovery, noting that spatter cones are ubiquitous on Earth, and their presence on Mars was long suspected but never definitively proven. Rader stated, “Spatter cones are so common on Earth that it seemed extremely unlikely that they simply didn’t exist on Mars. Their presence gives us a benchmark to shoot for when simulating Martian volcanoes.”

This new benchmark is invaluable for planetary scientists, as it not only confirms that explosive volcanic eruptions occurred on Mars but also lays the groundwork for further investigations into how these eruptions shaped the planet’s surface. The discovery has also sparked interest in identifying additional spatter cones or similar volcanic structures on Mars, which could reveal even more about the planet’s geological history.

Rader and Flynn both expressed excitement about the potential for future research stemming from this discovery. “We 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,” Flynn said. With this new evidence in hand, researchers are eager to explore other volcanic features on Mars and continue refining our understanding of the planet’s volcanic activity.

Broader Implications for Planetary Science

This discovery not only provides new insights into Martian geology but also opens up new possibilities for studying volcanic processes on other planets. By comparing volcanic features on Earth with those on Mars, scientists can better understand the commonalities and differences in how volcanic activity unfolds across different planetary environments. The discovery of spatter cones on Mars reinforces the idea that volcanism was once a dynamic force shaping the planet’s surface, and it prompts questions about how much volcanic activity may still be occurring today.

The ability to directly compare volcanic formations on Mars and Earth also deepens our knowledge of planetary evolution and the forces that shape planetary surfaces over time. This discovery, combined with future research, will help scientists build more comprehensive models of how planets like Mars have evolved geologically and how they might continue to change in the future.