Origin of Valles Marineris and Noctis Labyrinthus, Mars, by Structurally Controlled Collapse and Erosion of Crustal Materials

Stratigraphic, structural, and geomorphologic relations indicate that the Valles Marineris (VM) and Noctis Labyrinthus troughs on Mars began their development in the Noachian as narrow grabens in response to Tharsis-centered stress and local magmatism. Following an apparent waning of VM tectonism during the Early Hesperian, the major trough-forming episode ensued during the Late Hesperian and Early Amazonian due to fluidization, collapse, and erosion of water-saturated, poorly consolidated crustal rocks through channels and subsurface conduits.