Tohil Mons

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An aerial view of Tohil Mons crater
An aerial view of Tohil Mons crater

Tohil Mons is a volcano on the moon of Io, one of Jupiter's moons. It stands at 5400 m (18,000 feet) and is located in the Culann–Tohil region of Io's antijovian hemisphere.It was named after the Mayan weather god Tohil.

Geologically Tohil Mons is considered by NASA scientists to be one of the most geologically complex mountains in the Solar System as the volcano shows evidence of forming from other mountains through tectonic and erosional processes, in combination with silicic volcanic rock or magma activity [1].

The crater of Tohil Mons
The crater of Tohil Mons

The main massif of Tohil Mons is characterized by ridges and grooves, which indicate materials are present which have been tectonically displaced. This includes younger mottled crustal materials that were also displaced during mass wasting processes.

The area between the volcano and the surrounding counterparts, Radegast Patera and Tohil Patera contain a noticeable number of dark and white silicate flows, which are understood to be lava ponds or small lava lakes.

Topographical studies of the terrain indicate that there is less than 1 km of relief in the Culann–Tohil region and that there is no discernible correlation between centers of active volcanism and topography [2].

Topography of Tohil Mons, drawn up by the Galileo Probe
Topography of Tohil Mons, drawn up by the Galileo Probe

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